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“Report  on  "the  Flora  of 
Western  and  Southern  "Texas 

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Natural  History  Library 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  449 


Tol.  Till,  To.  29.  Washington,  1>.  C.  Sept.  23,  1885. 


REPORT  ON  THE  FLORA  OF  WESTERN  AND  SOUTHERN  TEXAS. 

By  Dr.  V.  HA  V A ISM,  U.  S.  A. 

The  observations  and  collections  on  which  the  following  report  is 
based  were  made  at  the  several  posts  where  I have  been  stationed  since 
August,  1880,  also,  and  chiefly,  while  on  duty  with  the  expeditions  for 
the  exploration  of  Western  Texas,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  William 
K.  Livermore,  chief  engineer  officer,  Department  of  Texas,  in  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  of  1881  and  1883.  The  specimens  themselves  will  be  pre- 
sented to  the  National  Museum. 

The  first  part  describes  in  a general  way  the  vegetation  of  Western 
and  Southern  Texas.  The  various  topographical  features  of  the  land 
are  considered  separately  and  their  botanical  physiognomy  sketched  as 
accurately  as  possible.  It  includes  such  meteorological  notes  as  were 
deemed  useful  for  the  better  understanding  of  the  subject. 

The  second  part  is  made  up  of  economic  notes  on  the  plants  known  to 
have  useful  or  baneful  properties  or  to  be  of  value  to  agriculture  or  in- 
dustry. 

My  grateful  acknowledgments  are  particularly  due  to  Mr.  Sereno 
Watson,  of  Cambridge,  and  Dr.  George  Vasey,  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  for  their  valuable  assistance  in  the  determination  of  spe- 
cies. 

PART  I. 

GENERAL  VIEW. 

Austin,  the  capital  of  Texas,  lies  within  the  timbered  agricultural 
section  of  the  State.  South  and  west  of  it,  the  mean  annual  temperature 
increases  while  the  rainfall  decreases  so  that  a change  of  vegetation  soon 
becomes  perceptible.  San  Marcos  and  New  Braunfels  are  still  centers 
of  prosperous  farming  districts ; farther  south  the  success  of  crops  is 
not  so  assured.  After  crossing  the  Guadalupe  the  change  of  climate  is 
marked  and  becomes  more  and  more  striking.  The  timber  grows  thinner 
on  the  prairies,  seldom  extending  far  from  valleys  or  water-courses; 
broad  plains  are  covered  with  Mezquit,  so  characteristic  of  a serene, 
rainless  sky.  West  of  the  Colorado  and  San  Antonio  Rivers,  and  south 
of  the  latter,  farming  is  only  remunerative  on  bottom-lands  of  valleys ; 
it  ceases,  practically,  west  of  the  headwaters  of  the  San  Saba,  Llano, 
and  Nueces,  and  south  of  the  Frio,  or  is  only  possible  in  rare  valleys 
with  irrigation. 

Dallas  and  Fort  Worth  stand  in  the  midst  of  a fine  agricultur.il 
Proc.  Nat.  Mus.  85 p £0031 


450  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [I860. 

region.  Thence,  going  westward  on  the  Texas  Pacific  Railroad,  no  ma- 
terial change  is  noticed  until  the  Brazos  is  passed  when  the  arboreal 
vegetation  becomes  less  luxuriant.  The  Cottonwood  and  American  Elm, 
common  hitherto,  are  now  sparse,  while  the  Mezquit  begins  to  showitselfi 
Groves  of  Live  Oak,  Red  Oak  and  Juniper  continue  as  far  as  Baird. 
Beyond  this  town,  we  pass  out  of  the  timbered  and  farming  region  of 
North-Central  Texas  and  gradually  enter  what  has  been  called  the  great 
Texano-Mexican  Desert,  a vast  expanse  of  plains  and  prairies,  scarred 
by  arroyos,  where  streams  are  few  and  very  far  apart,  and  timber,  if 
there  be  any,  confined  to  water-courses  and  mountains.  The  epithet 
of  desert  has  only  reference  to  the  scarcity  of  timber  and  water,  which 
imparts  a bald,  barren  aspect  to  the  face  of  nature  5 shrubby  and 
herbaceous  vegetation  fairly  covers  this  immense  zone  which  in  many 
districts  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  raising  of  live  stock.  Even  sandy, 
alkaline  soils  are  seldom  entirely  destitute  of  grass  or  chaparral.  * 

If  we  draw  a line  from  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Pan  Handle,  or 
from  Fort  Elliot,  to  the  harbor  of  Corpus  Christi,  we  shall  divide  Texas 
in  two  unequal  parts.  The  eastern,  comprising  about  two-fifths  of  the 
State,  with  rich  alluvial  soil,  warm  climate,  and  good  rainfall,  is  an  ex- 
cellent agricultural  and  pastoral  land.  The  larger  western  part,  of  cre- 
taceous formation,  consists  mostly,  as  already  mentioned,  of  treeless 
plains  of  various  degrees  of  fertility  and  barrenness,  from  the  best  pas- 
tures to  bare  sand  flats.  Near  the  extreme  west,  from  the  New  Mexi- 
can border  to  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Rio  Grande,  are  several  large 
mountain  systems  where  good  timber  and  perennial  waters  are  found. 

I roughly  estimate  that,  of  the  western  plains  beginningat  the  imagi- 
nary line  drawn  above,  one-third  is  worthless  owing  to  sterility  of  soil 
and  absence  of  water.  One-third,  with  good  loamy  land  watered  by 
living  springs  and  running  creeks,  always  affords  excellent  grazing. 
The  capability  of  the  other  third  to  subsist  herds  and  flocks  de- 
pends entirely  upon  the  rainiall,  and,  therefore,  varies  from  year  to 
year;  thus  the  district  which  an  explorer  in  a dry  season  finds  a barren 
waste,  may,  the  next  year,  with  an  increased  and  better  distributed 
precipitation,  be  covered  with  good  grass  through  which  flow  many 
ephemeral  streamlets ; hence  the  discrepancy  of  accounts  as  to  the  pas- 
toral worth  of  Western  Texas. 

RAINFALL. 

The  rainfall  of  Western  Texas  is  small  and  exceedingly  variable  as  to 
time  and  quantity.  It  ranges  from  10  to  33  inches.  At  San  Antonio,  the 
mean  is  32.75 ; it  decreases  irregularly  but  steadily  as  we  proceed  west- 
ward to  El  Paso  and  the  Colorado  of  the  West,  then  increases  slightly 
to  the  ocean.  Although  the  rainfall  is  small  in  Western  Texas,  it  is  not 
as  scant  and  hopeless  as  in  the  desert  districts  of  Arizona  and  Cali- 
fornia. 

All  this  is  shown  in  the  following  table  computed  from  the  data  of 


■ 

£85.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  451 

five  or  more  years,  obtained,  for  the  most  part,  from  the  office  of  the 
Ohief  Signal  Officer,  United  States  Army: 


Locality. 

Inches. 

San  Antonio 

32.75 
29.37 
26. 06 
21. 71 
15.91 
13.  06 
10. 83 
3. 28 
9.97 

‘Fnrt,  Clark 

"Raplft  Pass _ _ _ _ 

McKavett 

Stockton 

■Rl  Paso  

Tncson _ _ 

Yuma 

San  Diego 

It  is  in  the  western  counties  of  Texas  where  the  rain  is  least,  viz., 
Tom  Green,  Crockett,  Pecos,  Presidio,  El  Paso,  each  larger  than  the 
State  of  Vermont,  that  are  found  the  worst  lands  of  the  State.  In  these 
counties  there  are,  outside  of  mountains,  but  two  or  three  creeks  per- 
manently running,  and  only  for  3 or  4 miles. 

[ There  is  no  well-defined  rainy  season  in  Western  Texas;  rain  falls  in 
fitful  “ spells”  at  any,  and  often  the  most  inopportune,  time,  with  long 
intervals  of  drought.  Two  or  three  months  receive  one-half  of  the  yearly 
precipitation.  It  is  the  season  of  sudden  rises  and  floods  which,  in  a 
few  hours,  cause  irreparable  damages  and  again  as  promptly  subside, 
drained  away  by  timberless  arroyos,  so  that  but  a comparatively  small 
amount  of  moisture  is  retained  in  the  earth  and  penetrates  to  the  sub- 
soil. 

Three  or  four,  or  more,  months  of  the  year  are  entirely  without  rain, 
or  only  receive  an  insignificant  amount.  It  is  the  season  of  dust  storms 
and  prairie  fires ; then  springs  dry  up,  streams  stagnate  or  sink  out  of 
sight.  Even  the  Rio  Grande,  above  its  main  Mexican  tributary,  the 
Conchas,  ceases  to  run,  and  in  many  places  its  bed  becomes  a sinuous 
avenue  of  glaring  sand. 

Generally  speaking,  there  are  two  yearly  waves  of  rainfall;  the  smaller 
from  April  to  June,  the  larger  from  August  to  November.  They  shift 
more  or  less  from  year  to  year  and  vary  also  according  to  locality. 
At  San  Antonio,  a large  proportion  of  the  rain  falls  during  the  winter 
and  early  spring. 


TEMPERATURE. 

Excluding  the  tropical  southern  half  of  Florida,  the  mean  annual 
temperature  of  the  Lower  Rio  Grande  is  the  highest  in  the  United 
States.  Next  to  Key  West  (mean  77.5),  Fort  Ringgold  has  the  unenvia- 
ble distinction  of  being  the  hottest  military  post  in  the  Union.  Its  mean 
annual  temperature  (data  from  the  office  of  the  Chief  Signal  Officer)  is 
73.4,  about  a degree  higher  than  that  of  Fort  Yuma  (72.3),  the  hottest 
post  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Next  to  Ringgold,  come  in  order: 


452  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885 

Lareclo,  72.6;  Brownsville,  72.42  (U.  S.  Hospital  observations);  Eagl< 
Pass,  7 0.57 ; all  of  which  places  are  on  the  Bio  Grande. 

West  and  north  of  a line  passing  through  Eagle  Pass  and  San  An 
tonio,  the  annual  mean  falls  below  70;  it  is  sensibly  lower  than  that  o 
military  posts  lying  at  higher  latitudes  in  Arizona  and  Southern  Cali 
fornia.  It  decreases  slightly  going  west,  as  in  the  following  table,  ii 
which  no  correction  is  made  for  latitude. 


Locality. 

Tem- 

pera- 

ture. 

Galveston 

69. 92 

San  Antonio 

69.  24 

Fort  Clark 

69.07 

McKavett 

65.  56 

Stockton 

64.  97 

El  Paso 

63.  67 

Fort  Davis,  lying  in  a mountain  region,  has  a lower  mean  (61.84)  at 
well  as  a higher  rainfall  (23.48)  than  would  be  expected  from  its  com- 
parative longitude. 

The  summer  means  (from  May  to  September  inclusive)  of  the  severa1 
places  noticed  above  do  not  always  correspond  with  their  annual  means, 
a fact  of  considerable  importance  in  the  appreciation  of  local  tempera- 
ture. Banked  in  the  order  of  their  summer  means,  Fort  Yuma*stands 
first  (86°.26) ; Laredo,  second  (84.10) ; Fort  Binggold,  third  (83.64) ; Key 
West,  fourth  (82.86) ; Eagle  Pass,  fifth  (82.46).  The  summer  mean  of 
El  Paso  is  80.76,  showing  that  the  estival  temperature,  on  going  west- 
ward towards  the  continental  divide,  does  not  decrease  in  the  same  ra- 
tio as  the  annual  mean,  and,  therefore,  that  the  greater  fall  of  the  latter 
is  due  to  the  colder  winter. 

A thermal  line,  drawn  so  as  to  represent  by  its  altitude  the  varying 
mean  annual  temperature  of  the  Mexican  Boundary,  would  describe  the 
following  curves:  From  Brownsville,  a rise  to  Binggold,  its  highest 
apex ; thence  a gradual,  slow  fall  to  El  Paso ; a second  and  less  rise  to 
Fort  Yuma,  and  another  and  much  more  abrupt  depression  to  San  Diego,1 
Cal.,  its  lowest  point.  It  is  interesting  to  notice  that  the  peaks  Of  this 
line,  Binggold  and  Yuma,  are  at  about  the  same  distance  from  the 
ocean,  and  that  the  great  inland  depression  at  El  Paso  is  near  its  center. 

The  line  of  summer  temperature,  as  already  seen,  would  not  be  quite 
parallel  with  the  above.  From  Brownsville  it  would  rise  and  reach  the 
summit  of  its  first  convexity  at  Laredo,  thence  descend  by  an  almost 
imperceptible  incline  to  El  Paso,  rise  to  its  apex  at  Fort  Yuma  and 
fall  to  its  lowest  point  at  San  Diego,  Cal. 

In  both  of  these  lines,  the  great  and  sudden  depression  from  Yuma 
to  the  shore  of  the  Pacific  at  San  Diego,  a distance  of  less  than  200  miles, 
is  very  remarkable. 


454  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [18& 


VALLEYS. 


In  all  valleys,  where  there  is  any  arboreal  vegetation  at  all,  are  foun 
Mezquit  and  Hackberry  of  various  dimensions.  The  other  timber 
valleys  and  the  peculiarities  of  their  flora  will  be  noticed  under  t 
heading  of  their  respective  streams.  In  this  place  I shall  only  considt 
those  general  features  which  belong  to  all  or  most  of  them. 

In  the  water  of  many  creeks  float  the  leaves  of  Nuphar  advena  (Ye 
low  Pond-Lily)  5 Hydrocotyle  interrupta , umbellata  and  prolifera  (Wate 
Pennyworts);  Cabomba  Caroliniana ; several  species  of  Potamogeton 
Jussicea  repens , from  San  Antonio  eastward  and  northward. 

Commonly  growing  in  water,  but  more  or  less  erect,  are : Nasturtiui 
officinale  (Water-Cress),  widely  introduced;  Sagittaria  variabilis  an 
lancifolia  (Arrow-heads) ; Samolus  Valerandi  and  ebracteatus  (Wate 
Pimpernels);  Cicuta  maculata  { Water  Hemlock);  Berula  angustifoli 
(Water  Parsnip) ; Mimulus  luteus  and  Jamesii  (Monkey-flowers);  He 
pestis  Honniera  ; Pliant  her  a Americana  ; Ludwigia  palustris  and  natans 
Lythrum  alatum. 

On  the  immediate  shore,  near  the  water’s  edge,  are  frequently  seen 
Lobelia  cardinalis  and  splendens  (Cardinal-flowers),  Erythrcea  calycosa 
Eustoma  Russellianum , Epilobium  coloratum , (Enothera  biennis  an' 
Jamesii  (Evening  Primroses),  Polygonum  acre  and  hydropiper  aide 
(Knot weeds),  Marsilia  vestita  and  macropoda , Ammania  auriculata , Va 
leriannella  stenocarpa , Erigeron  Philadelphicus , the  last  three  hardl 
extending  west  of  San  Antonio,  and  the  following  grasses : Arund 
Donax  (Cane-Grass),  Phraqmites  communis  (Wild  Broom-Corn),  Panicurr 
virgatum  and  crus-galli , Zizania  miliacea  (Indian  Rice),  Uniola  latifoli 
(Spike-Grass),  Andropogon  macrurus , Agrostis  verticillata , Brizopyrun 
spicatum. 

Of  shrubs  we  find— 

On  river  shores  or  the  dry  bed  of  water-courses,  commonly : Cepha 
lanthus  occidentalis  (Button-bush),  one  of  the  most  widespread  o 
shrubs;  Baccharis  angustifolia  and  ccerulescens  (Groundsel-shrubs),  Pin 
chea  borealis  (Arrow- wood),  Hymenoclea  monogyra,  Aster  spinosus  ; less 
frequently : Ilex  decidua  (Holly),  east  of  Devil’s  River ; Cercis  reni- 
formis  (Western  Red-bud),  Cornus  Drummondii  (Texas  Dogwood),  eas 
of  Devil’s  River;  Rhamnus  Carolinianus  (Alder-Buckthorn),  east  o 
Devil’s  River ; KarwinsJcm  Humboldtiana , west  of  Devil’s  River  ; Amor- 
pha  fruticosa  (False  Indigo),  Rubus  trivialis  (Low  Blackberry). 

In  dry  mountain  arroyos  : Unguadia  speciosa  (Mexican  Buckeye),  Leu 
ccena  retusa , Chilopsis  saligna  (Desert  Willow),  Jnglans  rupestris  (Kogal) 
the  latter  often  of  arboreal  size. 

In  the  shade  of  rocks  along  water-courses,  west  of  Devil’s  River,  ar 
frequently  seen  two  handsome  shrubs,  Fallugia  paradoxa  with  feathery 
fruit,  and  Tecoma  stans  with  golden,  bell -shaped  flowers. 


.385.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  455 

. Valleys  are  generally  well  covered  with  shrubbery,  sometimes  thin 
>nd  scattered,  as  on  the  Upper  Pecos,  or  dense,  as  on  the  Lower  Rio 
t frande  where  it  forms  an  impenetrable  chaparral.  This  shrubby  vege- 
lition  consists  of  : 

Prosopis  juliflora  (Mezquit)  and  pubescens  (Screw-Bean). 

Zizyphus  obtusifolius  (Lote-bush). 

Gondalia  obovata( Capul  or  Blue-Wood),  Mexicana  and  spathulata. 
Kceberlinia  spinosa  (Junco). 

Acacia  Farnesiana  (Huisache),  flexicaulis  (Ebony),  Jilicina , 
Wrightii , Rcemeriana , Fmoryana. 

Mimosa  biuncifera  (Una  de  Gato),  borealis , Lindheimeri. 

Bumelia  lycioides , lanuginosa , spinosa. 

Parkinsonia  aculeata  (Retama). 

Ptelea  trifoliata  (Shrubby  Trefoil). 

Lantana  macropoda  and  Camara. 

Lippia  lycioides. 

Lycium  Berlandieri , puberulum , Carolinianum. 

Sophora  secundiflora  (Frijolillo)  and  affinis  (east  of  the  Nueces). 
Porliera  angustifolia  (Guayacan). 

I Celtis  pallida  (Granjeno). 

Colubrina  Texensis. 

Many  vines  climb  over  trees  and  shrubs : 
j Rhus  Toxicodendron  (Poison  Ivy). 

Smilax  tamnoides  (Fiddle-shaped  Greenbrier). 

Cocculus  Carolinus  and  diver sifolius. 

Maximowiczia  Lindheimeri , with  handsome,  pendent,  scarlet  ber- 
ries. 

Philibertia  cynanchoides , blossoming  profusely  all  summer. 
Roulinia  unifaria. 

Vitis  candicans , riparia , rupestris , aestivalis,  all  edible  Grapes 
growing  thriftily  and  bearing  excellent  fruit. 

Vitis  incisa , indivisa , bipinnata , wild  Grapes  with  pretty  foliage 
but  unpalatable  berries. 

Ipomcea  sagittata,  pandurata,  coccinea  (var.  hederifolia ),  Mexicana r 
sinuata,  trijida  (Morning  Glories). 

Clematis  Pitcheri  and  Brummondii  (Virgin’s  Bower). 

Passiflora  fcetida , tenuiloba , affinis , incar nata  (Passion  Flowers). 
Ampelopsis  quinquefolia  (Virginian  Creeper). 

Mekania  scandens  (Climbing  Hemp- Weed). 

Anredera  scandens  (Texas  Madeira  Vine). 

Of  the  many  herbs  growing  on  valley  bottoms,  the  most  common  and 
conspicuous  are: 

Callirrhoe  involucrata , digitata , pedata  (Purple  Mallows). 

Sida  hederacea , lepidota , physocalyx. 

Sphceralcea  angustifolia. 

Roffimanseggia  stricta. 


456 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885 


Allionia  incarnata. 

Nyctaginia  capitata. 

Solarium  elceagnifolium , nigrum , triquetrum , heterodoxum , rostra 
turn , Torreyi. 

Datura  meteloides. 

Petunia  parviflora. 

Cliamcesaracha  Coronopus. 

Physalis  lob  at  a,  hedercefolia  (and  var  .puberula),  mollis  (var.  cineras • 
cens). 

Salvia  farinacea , lanceolata , Texana. 

Monarda  citriodora  and  punctata. 

Tetraclea  Coulter  i. 

Teucrium  Canadense  and  Cubense. 

Lippia  nodiflora . 

Verbena  bipinnatifida , ciliata , bracteosa. 

Lepidium  intermedium  and  alyssoides. 

Arabis  Ludoviciana. 

Draba  cuneifolia . 

Nasturtium  obtusum. 

Vesicaria  Gordoni. 

Cucurbita  perennis. 

Martynia  proboscidean  fragrans , althecefolia. 

Euphorbia  albomarginata , serpens, petaloidea,  hyper icifolia,  dentata r 
heteropliylla , marginata,  maculata , glyptosperma.  j 

Tragia  nepetcefolia. 

Acalypha  liederacea . | 

Polygonum  camporum , amphibium , Pennsylvanicum , incarnatum, 
aviculare. 

Rumex  hymenosepalus  and  Berlandieri. 

Heliotropium  Curassavicum. 

Portulaca  oleracea , retusa , lanceolata. 

Sesuvium  Portulacastrum. 

(Enotliera  speciosa,  pinnatiflda,  sinuata. 

Gaura  parviflora  and  Drummondii. 

Asclepiodora  decumbens. 

Convolvulus  incanus. 

Phacelia  Popei. 

Nama  hispidum. 

Nemophila  phacelioides. 

Ruellia  tuberosa. 

Antirrhinum  maurandioides. 

Tribulus  maximus  and  grandiflorus. 

Corydalis  aurea , var.  occidentalis. 

Argemone  liispida. 

And  also  the  following  Composites  : 

Heliantlius  lenticular  is  ^ petiolaris,  ciliaris . 


885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  457 

j!  Gaillardia  pulchella. 

Lepachys  columnar  is,  var.  pulcherrima. 

Gutierrezia  Texana. 

Selenium  amphibolum. 

Steplianomeria  minor. 

Verbesina  encelioides. 

Partlienium  hysterophorus. 

Heliomeris  tenuifolia. 

Characteristic  of  alkali  flats  or  arid  sandy  bottoms,  are : 

Atriplex  canescens  (under  several  forms),  acanthocarpa , expansa. 

Suwda  fruticosa  and  depressa. 

Spirostachys  occidentalis. 

Acantliochiton  Wrightii. 
i.  Cladothrix  lanuginosa. 

Varilla  Texana. 

SAN  ANTONIO. 

The  flora  of  the  valley  of  the  San  Antonio  River,  near  its  head  where 
, stands  the  town  of  San  Antonio,  being  typical  of  that  of  the  many  valleys 
[ which  drain  the  surrounding  country,  I shall,  at  the  risk  of  repetition, 
describe  it  with  some  detail. 

Many  trees  and  shrubs  leaf  in  March  and,  during  the  same  month, 
many  native  flowers  can  be  collected.  In  April  the  vegetation  is  in  its 
prime ; masses  of  luxuriant  timber  spread  over  the  valley,  thick  shrub- 
bery of  various  shades  of  green  covers  the  uplands,  and  a sward  of 
thin  but  nutritious  grass  carpets  the  ground.  The  pale  green  of  the 
Mezquit-clad  hills,  contrasting  with  the  somber  foliage  of  the  valley, 
Lis  particularly  striking.  In  May,  plants  begin  to  suffer  from  the 
hot  and  dry  atmosphere.  Before  August,  when  summer  rains  usually 
begin,  the  scant  grass  has  become  parclied,  the  shrubbery  temporarily 
withered  and  the  timber  dimmed  with  dust.  The  first  showers,  how- 
ever, quicken  everything  back  to  life.  The  winter  temperature  seldom 
falling  below  20°,  many  ornamental  shrubs  prosper  in  gardens,  and 
hardy  rosebushes  blossom  all  winter. 

The  homely  but  useful  Mezquit  (Prosopis  juliflora),  here  as  everywhere 
in  South  and  Western  Texas,  is  predominant;  it  is  mostly  a shrub, 
sometimes  a stunted  tree,  and  covers  the  slopes  and  many  of  the  table- 
lands. Mixed  with  it  are  the  hardly  less  common  Lote-bush  ( Zizyphus 
obtusifolius)  and  Brasil  or  Blue  Wood  (Condalia  obovata),  two  Rhamna- 
ceous  shrubs  growing  together  and  similar  in  appearance.  To  the  same 
order  belong  also  Rhamnus  Garolinianus , a tall  shrub  in  shady  places, 
and  Colubrinia  Texensis , a low  bush  on  higher  ground  near  the  head  of 
the  river. 

Perhaps  the  tree  most  characteristic  of  San  Antonio,  and  the  pride 
of  its  inhabitants,  is  the  Huisache  (Acacia  Farnesiana)  which  thrives 
i everywhere  in  the  valley,  filling  the  air,  in  March  and  April,  with  the 


458  PKOCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885 


delicate  perfume  of  its  capitate,  yellow  flowers.  Pretty  also  are  th^ 
shrubby  Acacia  amentacea  and  Bcemeriana , growing  on  gravelly  hills. 

The  other  ligneous  Leguminosae  deserving  mention  are : The  Frijolillcl 
(Sophora  secundiflora ),  a dark  green  shrub,  on  rocky  grounds,  with  thick! 
bunches  of  rank  violet  flowers  early  in  the  spring,  and  poisonous  scarlet] 
beans  in  summer ; Sopliora  affinis , a small  tree  with  green  bark,  loosely^ 
clustered  flowers  (in  March)  and  beaded  pod;  the  Betama  ( Parkinsonii 
aculeata ),  an  elegant  ornamental  tree  more  common  on  the  Lower  Bi< 
Grande;  Ccesalpinia  pulcherrima,  a bush  with  gorgeous  orange  flowers.] 
common  in  gardens,  introduced  from  Mexico ; the  Honey  Locust  (GlediP 
schia  triacanthos ),  mostly  cultivated. 

Largest  and  most  conspicuous  of  trees  along  the  river  is  the  lordlyj 
Pecan  ( Carya  olivceformis ),  attaining  here  an  enormous  size,  and  th< 
Cottonwood  ( Populus  monilifera).  Less  common  are  Black  Walnut] 
( Juglans  nigra),  Bald  Cypress  ( Taxodium  distichum),  Black  Willow! 
(Salix  nigra),  Green  Ash  ( Fraxinus  viridis,  var.,  Berlandieriana). 

Of  the  Urticaceae  there  are  several  members : The  common  Hack- 
berry  (Celtis  occidentals),  a rather  handsome  tree  1 to  2 feet  in  diame-| 
ter,  affecting  several  forms;  the  Thorny  Hackberry  or  Granjeno  oi 
the  Mexicans  ( Celtis  pallida  of  Torrey),  a stiff  shrub  bearing  insipid 
yellow  berries;  the  Bed  Mulberry  (Morns  rubra),  growing  everywhere 
and  yielding  luscious  fruit ; the  Wild  Mulberry  ( Morns  microphylla), 
along  the  river;  the  Paper  Mulberry  (Broussonetia  papyrifera),  commonl 
in  yards;  the  Water  Elm  ( TJlmns  crassifolia ),  a middle-sized  tree  along 
streams,  and  the  only  Elm  seen  about  San  Antonio ; the  Osage  Orange 
(Maclura  aurantiaca). 

The  Live  Oak  ( Quercus  virens),  a large  tree,  forms  the  main  feature  of 
the  arboreal  vegetation  on  the  higher  grounds  of  the  valley.  Another 
Oak,  smaller  and  less  common,  a form  of  Bed  Oak,  is  Qutrcus  rubra,  v ar. 
Texana.  Post  Oak  ( Quercus  stellata)  is  also  found  on  surrounding  hills. 

Of  the  Maple  Family,  the  Box-Elder  (Negundo  aceroides),  a small  tree] 
near  the  water,  is  the  only  representative.  To  a closely  allied  order 
belongs  the  Wild  China-tree  or  Soapberry  ( Sapindus  marginatus).  The 
naturalized  China- tree  (Melia  azedarach),  on  account  of  its  hardiness  and 
rapid  growth,  is  a favorite  shade  tree. 

Of  the  Bose  Family,  the  only  notable  arborescent  members  area  species 
of  Hawthorn  (Crataegus  subvillosa)  and  a Plum  (Prunus  Americana , var. 
mollis).  Of  the  Butaceae,  two  shrubs  are  common:  the  Hop-tree  (Ptelea 
trifoliata)  along  the  river,  and  the  Prickly  Ash  (Xanthoxylum  Clava- 
Herculis)  on  hill-sides. 

Other  shrubs  deserving  mention  are : The  Trefoil  Barberry  (Berber  's 
trifoliata),  low,  evergreen  bush  with  glaucous,  spiny  leaves,  yellow 
blossoms,  and  red,  palatable  berries;  the  well  known  Texas  Persimmon 
(Biospyros  Texana );  the  thorny  Bumelia  lanuginosa ; a small  Holly  (Ilex 
decidua );  a Dogwood  (Cornus  Drummondii) ; the  pretty  Lippia  lycioides 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  459 


bearing  many  slender  racemes  of  exquisitely  fragrant  white  flowers ; 
Forestiera  pubescens,  Vitis  bipinnata , Sambucus  Canadensis . 

Of  vines,  we  have  the  Poison  Ivy  (Rhus  Toxicodendron)  very  common 
and  of  luxuriant  growth 5 the  Texas  Virgin’s  Bower  ( Clematis  Drum- 
mondii),  a pretty  climber  with  long-feathered  fruit;  the  Virginian  Creeper 
(Ampelopsis  guinquefolia ) and  several  Grapes,  viz. : Vitis  candicans  and 
aestivalis  which  yield  scant  but  good  fruit;  Vitis  incisa  and  indivisa , 
neat,  hardy  climbers  but  with  useless  berries. 

Of  the  herbs  of  San  Antonio,  only  the  most  characteristic  can  find 
place  here. 

The  earliest,  blossoming  in  February,  are : 

Allium  striatum. 

Anemone  Caroliniana. 

Arabis  Ludoviciana. 

Draba  cuneifolia. 

Linaria  Canadensis. 

Verbena  bipinnatifida  and  ciliata. 

Oxalis  stricta. 

In  March,  blossom  the  following : 

Scutellaria  Drummondii. 

Vesicaria  Gordoni. 

Nemophila  phacelioides. 

Astragalus  leptocarpus. 

Gaura  Drummondii. 

Corydalis  aurea , var.  occidentalism 
Pinaropappus  roseus. 

Gaillardia  simplex. 

Lindheimeria  Texana. 

Veronica’  per  egrina. 

(Enothera  triloba  and  speciosa. 

Sisyrinchium  Bermudiana. 

Cooperia  pedunculata. 

Nemastylis  geminiflora , slopes  of  reservoir,  very  showy. 

Lupinus  subcarnosus  (Texas  Lupine),  covering  fertile  slopes  with 
a carpet  of  purple  blue. 

Delphinium  azureum  (Azure  Larkspur),  here  anomalously  white- 
flowered. 

Phlox  Rcemeriaha , small  but  showy,  mixing  abundantly  its  pink 
flowers  with  the  two  preceding. 

Callirrhoe pedata  (Purple  Mallow),  elegant  and  showy. 

Gilia  incisa. 

Later  in  the  season  we  find  : 

Gelasine  Texana.  ? 

Desmanthus  acuminatus  and  depressus7  grassy  plots. 

Neptunia  pubescens , grassy  plots. 

Schrankia  angustata , gardens. 


460  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885,. 

Psoralea  rhombifolia , Mezquit  woods.  1 3 

Vicia  Ludoviciana , valley.  L 

Medicago  maculata , valley.  t> 

Indigofer  a leptosepala , sandy  hillsides.  I 

Sesbania  macrocarpa , rare. 

Cassia  Lindheimeriana  and  occidentalis. 

Malvaviscus  Drummondii  (Wild  Fuchsia),  common. 

Malvastrum  Wrightii  and  tricuspidatum. 

Abutilon  Wriglitii  and  Texense. 

Sida  diffusa  and  physocalyx,  yards. 

Pentstemon  Cobcea , elegant  and  showy,  rare. 

Castilleia  indivisa , low  Mezquit  woods. 

Maurandia  Wislizeni,  high  Mezquit  woods. 

Teucrium  Canadense. 

Hedeoma  acinoides  and  Drummondii  (Pennyroyal),  the  former  com- 
mon in  the  valley,  the  latter  abundant  on  hills. 

Stachys  agraria , valley. 

Salvia  farinacea , ballotceflora , Texana , coccinea  (Sages),  common. 
Scutellaria  versicolor , woods. 

Monarda  citriodora  (Horsemint),  abundant. 

Brazoria  scutellarioides , very  pretty,  in  low  places. 

Bifora  Americana. 

Chcerophyllum  procumbens. 

Daucus  pusillus , var.  scaber. 

Polytaenia  Euttallii. 

Eryngium  Wrightii  ?,  very  showy  late  in  summer. 

Vesicaria  argyrea , about  the  reservoir. 

Streptanthus  platycarpus  1 
Stellaria  media  and  prostrata , valley. 

Silene  antirrhina , Government  Hill. 

Menodora  heterophylla , common. 

Specularia  perfoliata , biflora , leptocarpa , Lindheimeri . 

Asclepias  longicornu. 

Asclepiodora  viridis. 

Gonolobus  reticulatus  and  biflorus. 

(Enotlitra  tetraptera  and  serrulata  (Evening  Primroses). 

Linum  multicaule  and  Berlandieri , both  showy  Flaxes. 
Siplionoglossa  Pilosella , common. 

Buellia  tuberosa , very  common  late  in  summer. 

Dianthera  parviflora. 

Oxybaphus  nyctagineus. 

Tradescantia  Virginica. 

Tinantia  anomala , shady  woods. 

Sisyrinchium  geniculatum  and  anceps. 

Passiflora  incarnata  and  affinis  (Passion-Flowers). 

Lithospermum  Matamorense , shady  woods. 


1385.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  461 


Onosmodium  Bejariense , shady  woods. 

Echinospermum  Redowskii,  var.  cupulatum. 

Evolvulus  sericeus , very  common  throughout  summer. 
Convolvulus  hermannioides. 

Dichondra  repens , roadsides. 

Ipomeea  trifida. 

Xama  Jamaicense , shade  of  fences. 

Geranium  Carolinianum , valley. 

Euphorbia  marginata , common  and  showy. 

Geum  album , river  shore. 

Yucca  rupicola , very  elegant ; in  rocky  woods. 

Nicotiana  repanda  (Wild  Tobacco),  common. 

Solanum  nigrum , triquetrum , elceagnifolium , rostratum , abundant. 
Mirabilis  longiflora , rare. 

Bowlesia  lobata , shade  of  fences. 

Bouchetia  erecta , Mezquit  woods. 

Spigelia  Lindheimeri , Mezquit  woods. 

Humble  but  very  elegant  are  two  members  of  the  Amaryllis  Family, 
new  crops  of  which  appear  after  every  summer  shower,  the  white- 
flowered  Cooperia  Drummondii  and  the  golden-petaled  Habranthus  Tex- 
anus. 

The  most  common  Composites,  mostly  homely  weeds,  are : 

Verbesina  encelioides  and  Virginica. 

Ambrosia  trifida. 

Franseria  tenui/olia , var.  tripinnatifida. 

Xanthium  Strumarium. 

Hymenopappus  arte  mis  icefolius. 

Gaillardia  pulchella. 

Helianthus  lenticular  is. 

Parthenium  Hysterophorus. 

Lepachys  columnaris , var.  pulcherrima. 

The  last  two,  particularly,  choke  the  lanes  and  vacant  grounds  of  the 
town. 

Of  grasses  we  find — 

In  pastures : 

Buchloe  dactyloides  (Buffalo  or  Mezquit  Grass). 

Bouteloua  oligostachya , hirsuta , Texana  (Gramas). 

Aristida purpurea,  var.?  longiseta  (Triple-awned  Grass). 

Stipa  Xeesiana. 

Andropogon  saccharoides  and  scoparius  (Beard-Grasses). 

Along  the  river : 

Panieum  Crus-Galli , var.  longisetum  (Panic-Grass). 

Uniola  latifolia  (Spike-Grass). 

Arundo  Donax  (Cane-Grass). 

Zizania  miliacea  (Wild  Rice). 


85. 


462  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [18* 

3 

In  yards  and  gardens : 

Cynodon  dactylon  (Bermuda  Grass),  introduced. 

Panicum  fuscum  and  Texanum  (Panic-Grasses).  i 

Hordeum pusillum  (Wild  Barley). 

Leptochloa  mucronata. 

Paspalum  distichum. 

Eriocliloa  sericea. 

Melica  diffusa. 

Digitaria  sanguinalis  (Finger-Grass). 

Eragrostis  oxylepis. 

Setaria  glauca  (Bristly  Fox-tail). 

Festuca  tenella. 

Lepturus  paniculatus. 

Cenchrus  tribuloides  (Bur-Grass). 

Bromus  unioloides  (Johnson-Grass). 

VALLEYS  EAST  OF  THE  PECOS. 

Most  of  the  trees  noticed  on  the  San  Antonio  River  reappear  in  other 
valleys  east  of  the  Pecos. 

The  Medina  is  well  timbered  with  Pecan  and  Water  Elm  ( TJlmus  crassi- 
folia );  more  sparsely  with  Cottonwood,  Sycamore  ( Platanus  occidentalis) 
and  Bald  Cypress,  all  large,  useful  trees.  On  higher  grounds  are  groves 
of  fine  Live  Oak  whose  short  trunk  measures  from  2 to  4 feet  in  diameter. 

The  Hondo,  Seco,  and  Sabinal  (Cypress  Creek)  are  poorly  wooded ; 
the  Frio,  only  fairly  so  in  scattered  clumps. 

The  Nueces  River,  although  dry  in  many  places,  is  well  timbered  from 
the  heads  of  its  forks  to  its  mouth.  On  its  forks  thrive  the  Chestnut 
Oak  ( Quercus  Muhlenbergii ),  3 to  4 feet  in  diameter,  a smaller  Oak  with 
pale  foliage  ($.  Durandii ),  the  Texas  Red  Oak  ( Q . rubra , var.  Texana)y 
the  Soapberry  ( Sapindus  marginatus ),  the  Wild  Mulberry  ( Morus  micro- 
phylla)  and  the  Black  Willow.  On  its  lower  part  are  groves  of  Cotton- 
wood and  Texas  Green  Ash  ( hraxinus  viridis , var.  Berlandieriana). 

The  country  between  Uvalde  and  Eagle  Pass  is  drained  by  several 
creeks,  viz. : Turkey,  Chuparosa,  Live  Oak,  Comanche,  and  Penitencia, 
all  converging  into  Lake  Espantosa.  They  are  mostly  dry,  but  their 
courses  are  well  marked  by  fringes  of  Live  Oak  and  Water  Elm,  to- 
gether with  Hackberry,  Green  Ash,  Retama  (ParJdnsonia  aculeata)  and 
Black  Willow. 

Las  Moras  Creek  takes  its  name  from  the  scattered  Mulberry  trees 
(Morus  microphylla)  growing  on  its  banks.  Groves  of  Pecan,  Live  Oak, 
and  Water  Elm,  with  the  usual  Hackberry  and  Soapberry,  are  found 
near  its  head  at  Fort  Clark. 

The  Pinto  and  Sycamore  are  thinly  wooded  all  along  their  immediate 
margins.  The  San  Felipe  is  fairly  timbered  near  its  mouth,  but  much 
of  its  course  is  bare. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  463 

The  San  Pedro,  or  Devil’s  Eiver,  is  a large  stream  draining  a hilly, 
grassy  district,  interesting  alike  to  botanist,  sportsman,  and  stockman. 
More  or  less  timber  is  found  all  along  its  course,  consisting  of  Pecan, 
Sycamore,  Mulberry,  Hackberry,  Soapberry,  and  Willow,  with  shrub- 
bery of  Persimmon,  Granjeno,  Mezquit,  and  Frijolillo.  In  the  vicinity 
of  old  Fort  Hudson  are  groves  of  Live  Oak.  Between  the  bridge  of  the 
Southern  Pacific  Eailroad  and  the  old  crossing,  a distance  of  3 miles,  I 
observed  four  species  of  Grapes : Vitis  aestivalis,  riparia , rupestris  and 
candicans , with  intermediate  forms,  all  growing  luxuriantly. 

Below  Eagle  Pass,  the  Eio  Grande  receives  no  tributary  on  the  Texas 
side.  Many  arroyos  drain  the  vast  plains  stretching  from  the  Nueces 
and  the  Olmos  Eivers  to  the  boundary  line,  and  several  retain  more  or 
less  rainwater,  but  there  is  no  permanent  running  stream  emptying  into 
the  Eio  Grande  from  Eagle  Pass  to  Brownsville. 

Many  streams,  some  becoming  important  rivers,  take  their  origin  along 
the  eastern  edge  of  the  Staked  Plains.  I shall  review  them  briefly  as 
they  appear  within  our  limits. 

THE  CONCHO. 

The  Concho  and  its  tributaries  run  through  undulating,  grassy  plains. 
From  Fort  Concho  we  can  trace  their  course  for  several  miles  by  Pecan 
trees  of  luxuriant  growth  ; they  are  also  fringed  in  places  with  Live  Oak, 
American  Elm  ( Ulmus  Americana ),  more  sparsely  with  Cottonwood  and 
everywhere  with  Hackberry.  On  the  Main  Concho  the  timber,  thick 
below,  becomes  scant  a few  miles  above  Fort  Concho,  but  scattered 
clumps  extend  as  far  as  Camp  Charlotte.  On  the  North  Concho  there 
is  good  timber,  restricted  to  the  banks,  as  far  as  Sterling  Creek.  A small 
wild  Plum  ( Prunus  rivularis)  with  red,  palatable  fruit,  is  common  on  the 
Concho  and  Colorado.  Dense  thickets  of  Mezquit  cover  many  of  the 
surrounding  high  table-lauds. 

The  most  common  Grasses  in  the  Concho  Basin  and  northward  are, 
Buchloe  dactyloides  (Buffalo-Grass),  Aristida  purpurea,  Bouteloua  oligos- 
tacliya  (Common  Grama),  and  Eilaria  mutica,  all,  but  specially  the  first 
and  third,  of  excellent  quality.  The  first  two  are  commonly  called 
Mezquit-Grass. 

Decking  the  prairie  on  all  sides,  are  the  cherry-red  Callirrhoe  pedata, 
the  Prairie  Lily  (Cooperia  Drummondii),  and  the  ubiquitous  Verbena 
bipinnatifida , Monarda  citriodora , Salvia  farinacea. 

THE  COLORADO. 

At  Austin,  the  capital  of  Texas,  the  picturesque  banks  of  the  Colo- 
rado are  well  timbered  with  Pecan,  Cottonwood,  Sycamore,  Cypress, 
several  species  of  Elm  and  of  Oak.  The  latter  are : Quercus  virens  (Live 
Oak),  Q.  rubra  (Eed  Oak),  Q.  nigra  (Black  Jack),  Q.  macrocarpa  (Bur 
Oak),  Q.  stellata  (Post  Oak),  Q.  palustris . The  White-heart  Hickory 


464  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


( Carya  tomentosa)  is  also  found  in  the  vicinity,  and  Hackberry,  Soap- 
berry and  Red  Cedar  are  common. 

Immediately  above  Austin  the  timber  remains  good.  Beyond  the 
San  Saba  it  gradually  decreases,  and,  after  passing  the  mouth  of  the 
Concho,  one  sees  only  the  American  Elm  and,  in  less  quantity,  Hack- 
berry,  Soapberry,  and  Willow.  Still  further  up,  at  Colorado  City,  where 
the  Texas  Pacific  Railroad  crosses  it,  no  timber  is  visible  on  the  naked 
banks  and  the  river  has  dwindled  to  a salt  brook,  often  dry. 

Two  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Colorado  have  permanent  water, 
some  wood,  and  run  through  good  grazing  districts : Tobacco  Creek, 
fringed  with  Hackberry  and  Willow,  and  Champlin  Creek.  On  the 
latter  I noted  two  or  three  Cottonwood;  Black  Willow  ( Salix  nigra) 
attaining  a foot  in  diameter  and  the  dominant  tree ; Hackberry  and 
Soapberry;  a small  Plum  (Prunttu  rivularis)  and  two  shrubby  Oaks, 
Quercus  grisea , and  var.  brevifolia  of  Q.  undulata , the  latter  10  to  12  feet 
high.  Large  Mezquit  woods  cover  many  of  the  surrounding  plains  and 
afford  excellent  fuel  and  fence  rails,  but  no  building  timber. 

The  San  Saba  and  Llano  Rivers,  large  western  affluents  of  the  Colo- 
rado, are  fairly  well  timbered,  and  flow  through  fertile  valleys,  while 
good  grass  covers  the  surrounding  plains.  The  prevalent  trees  along 
these  streams  are  : Pecan,  Cottonwood,  Willow,  Chestnut  Oak  (Quercus 
Muhlenbergii),  Live  Oak  (Q.  virens),  a small  Post  Oak  (Q.  Durandii), 
American  Elm  and  Mulberry  (Moms  micropliylla).  On  the  uplands  the 
Red  Cedar  (Juniperus  occidentalis  var.  conjungens)  and  the  ordinary 
Post  Oak  (Quercus  stellata)  are  conspicuous  in  places. 

THE  BRAZOS. 

The  Clear  Fork  of  the  Brazos  runs  through  a good  farming  region. 
Its  banks  are  covered  with  Pecan,  Cottonwood,  Live  Oak,  American 
Elm,  Hackberry,  Willow,  and  Mesquite.  The  last  four  trees  or  shrubs, 
with  a few  stray  Pecan,  extend  into  the  southern  branches  of  the  Fork 
as  far  as  Abilene  and  the  range  of  high  hills  forming  the  watershed 
between  the  waters  of  the  Brazos  and  those  of  the  Colorado. 

Above  the  mouth  of  the  Clear  Fork,  the  Brazos  dries  up  in  many 
places ; the  timber  grows  scarce  and  often  disappears.  Its  several 
branches,  shallow,  sluggish  and  salt  creeks,  stretch  westward  through 
broken,  naked  plains  and  gypsiferous  bluffs.  Despite  the  barren  as- 
pect of  the  country  the  grass  is  very  good  in  many  districts,  where 
thrive  large  herds  of  cattle. 

On  approaching  the  Staked  Plains,  water  is  purer,  more  plentiful,  and 
the  grass  more  nutritious  and  abundant.  Small  groves  of  Cottonwood 
are  seen  in  sheltered  canons,  notably  in  Canon  Blanco. 

THE  RED  RIVER. 

The  many  heads  of  the  Red  River,  within  the  Pan  Handle,  afford  an 
ample  supply  of  excellent  and  permanent  water,  and  meander  through 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  465 


Vo!.  VIII,  Vo.  30.  Washington,  1$.  €.  Sept.  S3,  1880. 


a very  fine  grazing  region.  Several  of  them  are  shaded  with  Cotton- 
wood. Farther  down  the  Eed  River  is  often  dry,  the  timber  scant  or 
absent,  and  the  grass  very  poor  on  the  sandy  plains. 

Pease  River  and  the  Big  Wichita  run  through  arid,  treeless  plains . 
occasional  clumps  of  Hackberry  and  Willow,  and  stray  Cottonwood,  are 
found  in  side  canons.  Near  its  mouth  the  Big  Wichita  is  well  tim- 
bered. 

THE  PECOS. 

The  Pecos  is  not  a wooded  stream.  Near  its  mouth,  where  its  swift, 
muddy,  and  saline  waters  run  through  a deep,  rocky  valley,  are  clumps 
of  Texas  Green  Ash  (Fraxinus  viridis , var.  Berlandieriana ),  Willows 
(Salix  nigra  and  longifolia)  and.  Hackberry.  Common  here  are  the 
beautifully  penninerved  shrub,  KarwinsMa  Humboldtiana , and  the  ever- 
green Guayacan  (Porliera  angustifolia)  reaching  an  altitude  of  15  feet. 
In  a side  canon  I noted  other  arborescent  shrubs,  Quercus  undulata , var. 
pangens , Fraxinus  Greggii , Forestiera  reticulata.  I failed  to  see  the  Pis- 
tacia  Mexicana , a small  tree  found  hereabout  by  Bigelow.  In  this 
vipinity  were  collected  the  following  handsome  and  remarkable  plants : 
Pentstemon  baccharifolius , Amoreuxia  Wrightii , and  Hibiscus  cardio- 
phyllus. 

On  ascending  the  river  the  timber  becomes  very  sparse ; it  increases 
slightly  near  the  mouth  of  Independence  and  Live  Oak  Creeks  and 
then  disappears.  Both  of  these  creeks  are  good  running  streams,  the 
former  watering  a grazing  district  noted  for  its  excellence,  the  latter 
fringed  with  Live  Oak  and  Cedar. 

Above  Live  Oak  Creek,  the  Pecos,  a full-brimmed,  muddy  river,  from 
8 to  15  yards  wide,  meanders  for  several  hundred  miles  through  sandy, 
naked,  broken  plains,  whereon  neither  topography  nor  vegetation  be- 
token its  course.  The  shrubbery  on  its  banks  consists  of  low  Mezquit, 
Lote-bush  ( Zizyphus ),  Capul  ( Condalia  obovata ),  Creosote-bush  (Larrea 
Mexicana ),  Junco  (Kceberlinia  spinosa ),  Cenizo  (Atriplex  canescens)  and 
Lycium  Carolinianum.  The  Long-leaved  Willow  (Salix  longifolia) 
grows  in  small  clumps  ou  the  banks,  often  in  company  with  a Grounsel- 
bush  ( Baccharis  angustifolia)  which  spreads  in  many  places  its  showy 
white  panicles.  Close  to  the  water  grow  commonly : Statice  Limonium , 
Samolus  ebracteatus , Fustoma  Russellianum  and  a giant  form  of  Aster 
divaricatus. 

The  prevalent  grass  of  the  Pecos  flats,  and  often  the  only  kind,  is 
Sporobolus  airoides , with  erect  culm,  1 to  3 feet  high,  and  loose,  open 
panicle  ; it  is  distinctly  salt  to  the  taste  and  caused  severe  colic  in  most 
of  the  mules  and  horses  of  our  party.  Cattle  readily  eat  it,  and  with 
Proc.  Nat.  Mus.  85 30 


466  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [ 1885. 


apparent  immunity,  which  probably  is  obtained  by  all  animals  feeding 
on  it  long  enough. 

On  bottoms,  the  most  common  Composites  are  Conyza  Coulter i and 
Bigelovia  Wrightii.  Common  also  are  Helianthus  lenticular  is,  Verbesina 
encelioides , Perezia  Wrightii , Grindelia  squarrosa,  and  Clappia  succdcciU- 
lia  ; and  on  alkali  soils,  the  fleshy  chenopods  : Suceda  fruticosa  and  de 
pressa , Spirostachys  occidentalis. 

No  peculiar  vegetation  distinguishes  the  Fall  of  the  Pecos.  The 
stream,  rushing  through  a jungle  of  Cane-Grass  (Arundo  Bonax),  is 
parted  by  a rocky  island  and  then  tumbles  about  20  feet  over  lime- 
stone bowlders,  its  muddy  waters  breaking  into  various  shades  of  red 
and  brown. 

At  Pope’s  Crossing,  the  Pecos  is  about  25  yards  wide  and  from  1 to 
3 feet  deep,  with  hard,  gravelly  bottom.  Its  banks  are  still  bare  of 
timber,  but  in  places  shaded  with  Cane-Grass.  The  Caiiagre  ( Bumex 
hymenosepalus)  is  quite  abundant  here,  as  at  many  other  points  along  the 
river. 

That  part  of  the  Pecos  Basin  from  old  Fort  Lancaster  up  to  Pope’s 
Crossing,  made  up  largely  of  barren  flats,  is  about  the  worst ; the  graz- 
ing is  fair  enough  on  many  of  the  adjoining  slopes  and  hills,  but  no- 
where sufficient  for  profitable  cattle  raising.  Near  the  latter  place  the 
grass  improves  very  much ; on  the  plains  north  of  it  large  herds  of 
cattle  roam  and  thrive,  and  settlements  are  forming. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  cattle,  when  accustomed  to  drink  the  saline 
water  of  the  Pecos,  prefer  it  to  pure  rain  water. 

On  the  fine  rolling  prairie  near  the  mouth  of  Delaware  Creek,  the  ex- 
cellent grass  consists  of  Bouteloua  oligostachya , hirsuta , racemosa , erio- 
poda  ; Aristida  dispersa  ; Setaria  caudata  ; Triodia  acuminata  ; Pappo- 
phorum  Wrightii. 

Two  of  the  principal  tributaries  of  the  Pecos,  Delaware  Creek 
aud  Black  Biver,  are  treeless  except  on  their  headwaters  in  the  foot- 
hills of  the  Guadalupe  Mountains ; here  are  small  groves  of  Cottonwood, 
Chestnut  Oak  ( Quercus  Muhlenberg £i),  a small  Ash  (Fraxinus  pistacicefo- 
lia),  Hackberry,  Soapberry,  and  Willow.  They  both  run  through  an  ex- 
cellent grazing  district.  On  the  bluffs  of  Delaware  Creek  were  collected 
a very  large  and  remarkable  form  of  Boerhaavia  leiosolena , a new  species 
of  Greggia  (G.  linearifolia , Watson)  and  a Nama  ( N . stenopliyllum , Gray) 
not  before  observed  north  of  the  Rio  Grande. 


VALLEYS  WEST  OF  THE  PECOS. 

i 

West  of  the  Pecos  the  few  running  streams  found  outside  of  mount- 
ain districts  are  naked;  they  are:  Comanche,  Leon,  Toyah  Creeks,  the 
Alamos,  San  Francisco,  and  Mara  villas.  On  the  forks  of  the  last  two 
may  be  seen  a few  clumps  of  Hackberry,  Soapberry,  aud  Willow ; scat- 
tered Cottonwood  occur  near  the  head  of  the  Maravillas. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  467 

COMANCHE  CREEK. 

Comanche  Creek  springs  from  the  foot  of  the  limestone  bank  on 
which  stands  Fort  Stockton.  It  is  a large,  clear,  rapid  stream,  strongly 
impregnated  with  alkaline  salts ; it  runs  3 or  4 miles  and  then  sinks. 
The  country  roundabout,  a vast  expanse  of  gravelly  sand,  is  dreary  in 
the  extreme.  There  is  not  even  a bush  on  the  banks  of  the  creek.  Near 
the  water’s  edge  I noticed  a handsome  form  of  Aspicarpa  hyssopifolia ; 
also  Ludwigia  palustris,  Ipomcea  sagittata,  Samolus  ebracteatus , and  such 
sea-shore  plants  as  Statice  Limonium  and  Brizopyrum  spicatum. 

On  the  gravelly  mesa  around  the  post  are  some  of  the  usual  herbs  of 
the  region—  Verbena  bipinnatifida , Bailey  a multiradiata , Biddellia  ta- 
getina,  Heliotropium  Greggii , Melampodium  cinereum. 

MOUNTAIN  STREAMS. 

The  water-courses  which  drain  the  mountains  are  generally  well  tim- 
bered. On  the  Limpio,  the  most  important  stream  between  the  Pecos 
and  El  Paso,  stand  groves  of  Cottonwood,  scattered  clumps  of  Red 
Oak  and  Emory’s  Oak,  Hackberry,  and  Willow.  Near  its  heads  are 
forests  of  Pine.  In  the  picturesque  Wild  Rose  Pass  the  Rosa  Arkan- 
sana  is  common  ; still  more  so  are  the  feathery  Fallugia  paradoxa  and 
the  economic  Canagre. 

The  Cibolo,  running  on  the  east  side  of  the  Chenate  Mountains,  is 
densely  wooded.  Cottonwood  ( Populus  Fremonti)  4 and  5 feet  in  di- 
ameter, and  Texas  Green  Ash,  40  and  50  feet  high  with  trunk  1 to  2 
feet  in  diameter,  are  characteristically  prominent.  The  other  trees  are 
Hackberry,  Soapberry,  Nogal  ( Juglans  rupestris ),  Wild  Mulberry  ( Morns 
micropliylla ),  and  Willows  (Salix  longifolia  and  nigra).  Over  these  trees 
the  Arroyo  Grape  ( Vitis  riparia)  climbs  luxuriantly,  forming  dense  walls 
and  bowers  which  yield,  in  the  fall,  small  but  very  palatable  bunches 
of  fruit.  South  of  the  mountains  and  long  before  reaching  the  Rio 
Grande,  the  Cibolo  is  dry  and  timberless. 

West  of  the  Chenate  Mountains  runs  Capote  Creek,  a small  stream 
shaded  from  the  fall  to  its  mouth  with  Cottonwood,  Texas  Green  Ash,  and 
Willows.  The  neighboring  bluffs  are  covered  with  excellent  grass,  prin- 
cipally Bouteloua  and  Cathesteclium.  I collected,  at  the  fall,  a new  shrub, 
Sageretia  Wrightii,  Watson;  and,  thereabout,  the  following  rare  and  in- 
teresting plants:  Flytraria  tridendata,  Sedum  Wrightii,  Desmodium  spi- 
rale,  Hibiscus  Coulter i,  Boerhaavia  scandens,  Pentstemon  acuminatus , Aris- 
talochia  brevipes. 

The  Chisos  Mountains  are  draiued  by  the  Tornillo  on  the  east  and 
the  Tarlinga  on  the  west.  The  former,  mostly  dry,  bears  on  its  upper 
part  a few  small  scattered  Cottonwood,  stunted  Hackberry,  Willows, 
iud  copses  of  shrubby  Tornillo  or  Screw  Bean  [Prosopis  pubescens).  Its 
ower  part  is  entirely  naked.  The  Tarlinga  contains  more  water  and 
setter  timber;  clumps  of  Cottonwood,  beginning  at  Agua  Fria,  dot  its 


468  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

course  through  the  canon ; the  last  15  miles  are  naked  except  near 
a large  spring,  2 miles  from  its  mouth,  where  more  Cottonwood  are 
found. 

The  Bofecillos  Mountains  are  drained  by  the  Ternero  on  the  west  and 
the  Grapevine  on  the  east.  The  former  is  a dry  arroyo  for  about  5 
miles  above  its  mouth,  then  becomes  a running  creek  for  5 or  6 miles, 
with  sparse  Cottonwood,  Texas  Green  Ash,  Hackberry  and  Willow  ; 
this  timber  extends  into  several  side  canons.  In  gravelly  ravines  near 
its  head,  the  handsome  shrub  Cassia  Wislizeni  is  common. 

The  Grapevine,  one  of  the  prettiest  tributary  canons  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  contains  a small  stream  which  sinks  and  reappears  in  many 
places,  and  many  clumps  of  Cottonwood,  Green  Ash  and  Willow.  The 
Vitis  aestivalis  ? grows  thriftily  over  the  trees,  while  the  Maiden-hair  Fern 
(Adiantum  Capillus-  Veneris)  and  Poison  Ivy  line  the  damp  rocks.  Here 
were  collected  two  rare  and  showy  grasses,  Cottea  pappophoroides  and 
Imperata  arundinacea. 

Between  the  upper  part  of  the  Ternero  and  the  Grapevine,  including 
the  northern  portion  of  the  Bofecillos  Mountains,  lies  a vast  grassy 
plateau  which  would  be  of  great  value  as  a grazing  range  were  water 
more  plentiful. 


THE  RIO  GRANDE. 

FROM  EL  PASO  TO  ITS  MOUTH. 

The  valley,  as  it  issues  from  the  pass  near  which  stands  the  town  of 
El  Paso,  widens  out  into  a broad  plain  covered  with  a forest  of  Cotton-  \ 
wood  whose  dense  foliage  contrasts  strongly  with  the  tawny  gray  of  the 
bare  slopes,  the  dark  blue  of  the  sharply  outlined  mountains  and  the 
pale  azure  of  the  sky. 

The  timber  is  confined  to  the  river  bottom  and  consists  of  Cotton- 
'wood*  ( Populns  Fremonti , var.  Wislizeni11!),  Willpws  and  Sparse  Ash 
(Fraxinus  pistacicefolia,  forma  tomentosa  of  Torrey).  The  Willows  are 
two  or  three  forms  of  Salix  nigra , and  Salix  amygdaloides  the  larger  and 
prevalent  species. 

The  valley,  below  El  Paso,  varies  in  width  from  one  to  several  miles 
and,  wherever  irrigated,  produces  fine  crops  of  corn,  Mexican  wheat, 
onions,  sweet  potatoes,  melons,  cabbages,  beans,  alfalfa  (Medicago  sativa)  j 
and  red  pepper.  It  also  produces  excellent  fruits,  such  as  grapes,  pear,  j 
and  apricot.  The  Irish  potato  has  not  yet  been  successfully  cultivated  1 
on  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  Mezquit,  as  a low  spreading  shrub,  remains  prominent  on  high 
ground.  Its  congener,  the  Screw-Bean  ( Prosopis  pubescens ),  or  Tornillo 
of  the  Mexicans,  growing  in  clusters  10  to  20  feet  high,  the  separate 
stems  8 to  10  inches  thick,  now  becomes  very  abundant  on  the  bottom. 

* Owing  to  the  variable  forms  they  affect,  there  is  still  some  uncertainty  in  the 
differentiation  of  the  Poplars  of  the  Southwest. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  469 


The  Ash  already  seen  at  El  Paso  is  occasionally  met  with  ; it  is  planted 
in  the  streets  of  Isleta  and  San  Elizario,  its  quick  growth  and  spread- 
ing limbs  making  it  a valuable  shade  tree.  The  Mexican  Elder  (Sam- 
bucus  Mexicana)  also  found  in  these  towns  may  have  been  imported. 

Below  San  Elizario,  the  valley  remains  broadly  open  down  to  old 
Fort  Quitman.  The  water,  however,  is  not  always  abundant  or  of  good 
quality  and,  during  dry  seasons,  disappears  in  places ; the  soil  is  also 
more  barren.  Large  groves  of  Cottonwood,  often  continuous,  cover  the 
alluvial  bottom. 

Atriplex  canescens , under  several  marked  forms,  grows  thickly  on 
sandy  and  gravelly  banks;  common  also  are  the  other  Chenopods, 
Atriplex  acanthocarpa  and  expansa , often  in  the  company  of  the  weedy 
Acanthocliiton  Wrightii.  Ephedra  antisyphilitica  and  trifurca  (Canatilla) 
are  never  rare  on  the  foot-hills  with  the  Creosote-bush  and  cylindrical 
Opuntias.  Nearer  the  edge  of  the  river  are  thickets  of  Baccharis 
cceruUscens,  Pluchea  borealis , and  that  most  common  of  bushy  weeds 
Aster  spinosus. 

At  Quitman,  the  prevalent  grasses  are  Hilaria  mutica  and  Bouteloua 
oligostachya  (Common  Grama). 

Below  this  point  the  valley  becomes  contracted  and  does  not  admit  of 
farming  as  far  down  as  Kuidoso.  The  Cottonwood  continues  to  be 
abundant,  although  now  with  increasing  distances  between  the  groves. 
From  the  summit  of  Eagle  Mountain  it  can  be  traced  along  the  valley 
from  Ojo  Caliente  into  Yieja  Canon ; it  is  dense  at  the  mouth  of  Capote 
Creek ; thence,  with  few  interruptions,  extends  to  Presidio  del  Norte, 
forming  large  woods  a few  miles  above  this  town. 

The  valley  is  more  or  less  settled  between  Ruidoso  and  Presidio,  and 
under  irrigation  yields  good  wheat,  corn,  and  vegetables.  Fifteen  miles 
from  the  latter  place  is  the  village  of  Polvo,  at  the  foot  of  the  Bofecillos; 
thence  to  Del  Rio  there  is  no  other  agricultural  settlement. 

Below  Presidio,  the  Cottonwood  is  much  less  frequent;  small  clumps 
are  seen  at  long  intervals.  It  disappears  in  the  Great  Canon,  where  no 
arborescent  vegetation  of  any  kind  is  possible,  but  reappears  below  it, 
forming  large  groves  a few  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Tarlinga,  south- 
west of  the  Chisos  Mountains.  At  this  point,  the  broad  valley,  abundant 
water  and  rich  alluvial  soil  offer  great  inducements  to  settlers.  Thence 
the  Cottonwood  is  more  sparse,  but  still  occurs  in  scattered  clumps  as 
far  as  the  Sierra  Carmel,  below  the  abandoned  Presidio  de  San  Vicente. 
Here  the  river  enters  another  series  of  canons,  a hundred  miles  long, 
and  as  it  issues  from  the  highlands,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Pecos,  it  is 
bare  of  Cottonwood  and  remains  so  to  its  mouth. 

At  Presidio  del  Norte  (953  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
altitude  2,780  feet)  the  broad  valley  and  adjoining  terraced  table-lands 
are  encompassed  by  steep  hills  and  craggy  mountains  bare  of  all  visible 
arborescent  growth,  the  whole  forming  a vast  landscape  of  utter  dreari- 
ness and  desolation. 


470  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM  [1885. 

The  vegetation  is  that  peculiar  to  the  great  Texano-Mexican  Desert. 
The  sparse  trees  are  confined  to  the  alluvial  bottom  and  dependent 
ravines ; they  are  Cottonwood,  Hackberry,  Mesquite,  Screw  Bean  and 
Willow  (Salix  longifolia  and  nigra).  Shrubs  and  bushes  are  common 
enough,  but  in  scattered  thickets  nowhere  forming  a dense  chaparral ; 
those  preponderating  on  mesas  and  hills  are  : 

Acacia  Greggii  and  constricta. 

Mimosa  borealis  and  biuncifera. 

Dalea  formosa. 

Condalia  obovata  and  spathulata. 

Zizyplius  obtusifolius. 

Kceberlinia  spinosa. 

Celtis  pallida. 

Lycium  Carolinianum , Berlandieri , puberulum. 

Mozinna  spathulata. 

Ephedra  antisyphilitica  and  trifurca. 

Larrea  Mexicana. 

Flour ensia  cernua. 

Yucca  angustifolia. 

The  Palmo  ( Yucca  baccata , var.  australis ),  with  tall  caudex,  10  to  20 
feet  high  and  1 to  2 feet  in  diameter,  covers  the  broad  graded  incline 
extending  from  the  valley  to  the  Chenate  Mountains.  The  obnoxious 
Lechuguilla  ( Agave  lieteracantha)  is  everywhere  but  too  common.  The 
Bear-Grass  or  Sotol  ( Dasylirion  Texanum)  is  also  conspicuous.  Of  the 
abundant  Cacti  the  most  remarkable  species  are:  Anhelonia  fissurata 
(Pellote)  bearing  a beautiful  flower  and  used  medicinally  by  Mexicans ; 
Anhelonia  Williamsii  not  before  observed  on. this  side  of  the  Rio  Grande; 
Gereus  Greggii , one  of  the  most  ornamental  of  its  class ; Cereus  stramineus 
(Strawberry  Cactus)  with  large,  red,  delicious  fruit. 

The  bottom  is  covered  with  such  weeds  as — 

Nama  hispidum. 

Solanum  nigrum  and  elceagnifolium . 

Portulaca  oleracea , retusa , lanceolata. 

Petunia  parvi flora. 

Sida  hederacea. 

Cucurbita  perennis. 

Lippia  nodiflora. 

Tribulus  maximus. 

Rumex  Berlandieri. 

And  also  the  following  Composites : 

Eelianthus  lenticularis  and  ciliaris. 

Verbesina  encelioides. 

Aster  spinosus , tanacetifolius  and  canescens.  * 

Coreopsis  cardaminefolia. 

Aplopappus  spinulosus. 

Gutierrezia  Texana. 

Helenium  amphibolum. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  471 


More  conspicuous  and  interesting  herbs  are — 

On  the  bottom : 

Collomia  longiflora. 

Tribulus  grandiflorus. 

Martynia  altliecefolia. 

(Enotliera  triloba  and  pinnatifida. 

Argemone  liispida. 

Hoffmanseggia  stricta. 

Sphceralcea  angustifolia. 

Tetraclea  Coulteri. 

Lepidium  alyssoides. 

Philibertia  cynanclioides  and  linearis . 

On  the  mesas : 

Talinum  aurantiacum. 

Loeselia  Havardi , Gray. 

Cassia  bauhinioides. 

Mentzelia  multiflora. 

Talinopsis  frutescens. 

Baileya  multiradiata. 

Biddellia  tagetina. 

The  coarse  “ Maton  ” grass  ( Sporobolus  Wrightii ),  on  which  many  of 
the  native  ponies  feed  in  winter,  occupies  large  portions  of  the  open  bot- 
tom. The  grazing  is  very  poor  in  the  valley  and  on  the  low  mesas;  it 
is  only  in  the  foothills  that  we  find  nutritive  Grasses,  principally 
Bouteloua  oligostachya  and  polystachya , Cathestechum  erectum , Aristida 
purpurea. 

Here  the  Rio  Grande  receives  its  largest  affluent,  the  Rio  Conchas, 
having  its  source  nearly  due  south  in  the  Sierra  Madre  of  Chihuahua. 
The  valley  of  this  fine  river  is  very  fertile,  and,  under  irrigation,  pro 
duces  abundant  cereals,  vegetables,  and  fruits,  on  which  subsist  many 
towns  and  villages  from  Presidio  del  Norte  to  Chihuahua. 

An  excursion  of  about  40  miles  through  and  beyond  the  Canon  of  the 
Conchas  did  not  reveal  any  notable  change.  The  country,  outside  of 
the  river  bottom,  is  a hopeless  desert  extending  to  the  very  mountains 
surrounding  the  City  of  Chihuahua.  In  this  desert  we  found  a flourish- 
ing Sotol -mescal  factory,  the  favorite  alcoholic  beverage  of  frontier 
Mexicans,  made  from  the  Sotol  or  Bear- Grass. 

On  February  14,  1881,  I was  surprised  to  see  the  Cottonwood  on  the 
CoDchas  already  quite  green,  while  those  of  the  Rio  del  Norte,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  dividing  ridge  were  still  a bare,  blackish  mass.  I 
subsequently  ascertained  that  the  difference  in  the  advance  of  vegeta- 
tion between  the  two  valleys  is  three  or  four  weeks,  and  found  an  easy 
explanation  for  it  by  taking  the  temperature  of  their  respective  streams. 
Thus,  on  February  21,  between  9 and  10  o’clock  a.  m.,  the  temperature 
of  the  Rio  del  Norte,  just  above  the  junction,  was  49°,  while  that  of  the 
Conchas  was  58°,  and  that  of  the  conjoined  rivers  (now  Rio  Grande)  55°. 


472  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


These  observations  testify  to  the  remarkable  influence  of  a few  degrees 
of  heat  in  the  moisture  of  the  subsoil  upon  early  vernal  vegetation. 

From  Presidio  one  sees  a lofty  mountain  to  the  southeast,  Sierra 
Pica,  9,000  feet  or  more  in  altitude,  probably  the  highest  in  the  State 
of  Chihuahua.  Its  summit  is  covered  with  Nut  Pine  of  large  size  (or 
its  Mexican  kin,  Pinus  cembroides ),  and  its  slopes  with  Quercus  grisea 
(Gray  Oak)  and  Arbutus  Xalapensis. 

Below  Presidio  the  river  enters  a series  of  deep  canons  not  yet 
thoroughly  explored.  Vegetation  within  them  is  scant,  sometimes 
entirely  absent.  Two  rare  and  pretty  shrubs,  Cowania  ericcefolia  (redis- 
covered by  me  on  Tornillo  Creek)  and  Emorya  suaveolens , were  found 
hereabout  by  the  botanist  of  the  Boundary  Survey.  Below  the  Bofecillos 
Mountains,  on  gravelly  mesas,  the  Eriogonum  Havardi , Watson,  is  con- 
spicuous with  its  semi-globular  masses  of  leaves  from  which  spring  many 
slender,  diverging  stems.  With  it,  but  much  rarer,  w as  found  a new 
species,  E.  suffruticosum , Watson.  In  the  canon  leading  to  the  San  Carlos 
Crossing  I rediscovered  the  Acacia  Schottii , apparently  at  the  identical 
place  where  first  seen  by  Dr.  Parry.  In  the  same  canon  were  collected 
a new  species  of  Boerliaavia  ( B . bracteosa , Watson),  the  pretty  Bouchea 
linifolia , the  rare  Mimosa  fragrans , and,  nearer  the  river,  a giant  form  of 
Acacia  filicina , 6 to  8 feet  high,  forming  a dense  thicket. 

Opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Tarlinga,  the  Bio  Grande  issues  from  the 
Great  Canon  through  a narrow  chasm  into  which  one  may  advance, 
creeping  under  the  overhanging  walls,  nearly  half  a mile.  Here  Salvia 
Henryi  and  Narna  undulatum  are  common. 

Near  the  mouth  of  the  Tarlinga,  on  low  sand  banks,  was  found,  with 
ripe  and  excellent  fruit,  the  Watermelon  (Citrullus  vulgaris),  which  has 
become  extensively  naturalized  in  Western  Texas. 

Growing  on  the  immediate  shore,  and  first  observed  as  a native  plant 
north  of  the  Bio  Grande,  is  the  beautiful  Tobacco-Shrub  {Nicotiana 
glauca ),  and  on  neighboring  gypseous  hills  that  rare  and  curious  shrub 
Salazaria  Meyicana.  Farther  down,  in  foot-hills  nearly  opposite  San 
Vicente,  was  collected  a new  species  of  a Mexican  genus,  Brongniartia 
minutifolia , Watson. 

Del  Bio  is  a promising  agricultural  village,  where,  among  other  fruits, 
delicious  peaches  are  raised.  From  this  point  almost  down  to  Eagle 
Pass  the  fertile  and  wide  valley  seems  well  adapted  to  farming.  Settle- 
ments occupy  the  several  creeks  watering  it. 

At  Eagle  Pass,  distant  495  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  altitude 
1,460  feet,  the  general  aspect  of  the  vegetation  remains  the  same  but 
a close  examination  reveals  changes.  The  Bear-Grass  has  disappeared, 
and  the  giant  Yucca  baccata  is  dwarfed  to  a mere  tuft  of  leaves.  Acacia 
Greggii  and  constricta  of  the  gravelly  mesas  of  Presidio  are  here  replaced 
by  Acacia  amentacea,  Berlandieri , Coulteri , and  Wrightii.  The  Mezquit 
is  as  common  as  ever,  shading  the  parade  ground  of  old  Fort  Duncan, 
ts  gnarled  branches  often  loaded  with  thrifty  bunches  of  Mistletoe 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  473 


(. Phorcidendum  flavescens).  The  Screw  Bean  is  no  longer  seen.  Here 
begin  the  Ketama  ( Parkinsonia  aculeata)  and  Huisache  ( Acacia  Farnesi - 
ana),  elegant  trees  becoming  more  frequent  and  of  larger  size  below. 
Common  and  conspicuous  are  the  thorny,  yellow -flowered  Parkinsonia 
Texana;  the  white-leaved,  purple-flowered  Caulophyllum  Texanum;  the 
fragrant  Lippia  lycioides  and  graveolens ; the  Majorano  ( Salvia  balloted- 
flora),  and  the  Guayacan  ( Porliera  angustifolia).  The  other  shrubs  are : 

Calliandra  conferta. 

Gastela  Ficliolsoni  (Goat-bush). 

Shcefl'eria  cuneifolia. 

Bumelia  lanuginosa  and  spinosa. 

Lantana  macrocarpa  and  Camara. 

Diospyros  Texana  (Persimmon). 

Mozzina  spathulata  (Sangre  de  dragon). 

Larrea  Mexicana  (Creosote-bush). 

Flourensia  cernua. 

Lycium  Carolinianum. 

Celtis  pallida  (Granjeno). 

Forestiera  angustifolia. 

Keeberlinia  spinosa  (Junco). 

Condalia  Mexicana,  obovata,  spathulata. 

Colubrina  Texensis. 

Zizyphus  obtusifolius. 

The  following  climbers  are  characteristic  : 

Ipomeea  sinuata. 

Clematis  Drummondii. 

Philibertia  cynanchoides. 

Maximowiczia  Lindheimeri. 

Passiflora  tenuiloba  and  feetida. 

Boulinia  unifaria. 

Cuscuta  decora. 

In  the  early  summer  the  bottom  is  covered  with  the  flowers  of  Callir- 
rhoe  involucrata,  CEnothera  speciosa,  tetraptera  and  sinuata,  Anemone  liis- 
pida  (with  purplish  flowers),  Phacelia  Popei,  Monarda  citriodora  and 
punctata,  Gaillardia  pulchella,  Dichetophora  campestris,  Selenium  am- 
phibolum  and  ooclinium. 

Other  herbs,  growing  in  various  situations,  are  : 

Neptunia  pubescens. 

Dalea  lasiathera. 

Psoralea  rhombifolia. 

Malvastrum  leptophyllum,  tricuspidatum,  pedatifldum. 

Sphoeralcea  hastulata. 

Melochia  pyramidata. 

Hermannia  Texana. 

Galphimia  linifolia. 


474  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

Asclepias  longicornu. 

Jatropha  Berlandieri. 

Talinum  sarmentosum. 

Oxalis  dichondrcefolia. 

Ionidium  lineare. 

SipJionoglossa  Pilosella. 

Aristolochia  longiflora. 

And  also  the  following  Composites : 

Conoclinium  dissectum. 

Varilla  Texana. 

Aphauostephus  ramossissimus. 

Gymnosperma  corymbosa. 

Chcetopappa  modesta. 

Encelia  subaristata. 

Gutierrezia  eriocarpa. 

Palafoxia  Texana. 

Bigelovia  cor  onopi folia. 

Verbesina  encelioides. 

The  prevalent  Grasses  are  : 

Buchloe  dactyloides  (Buffalo-Grass). 

Bouteloua  oligostachya , Texana , polystachya , Humboldtiana. 

Ghloris  cucullata. 

Panicum  lachnanthum , autumnale , virgatum , crus-galli. 

Hilaria  cenchroides  and  mutica. 

Eragrostis  megastachya  and  reptans  var.  capitata . 

Triodia  mutica. 

Andropogon  scoparius  and  contortus. 

Pappophorum  vaginatum. 

Paspalum  Iceve. 

Cenchrus  myosuroides. 

Spartina  gracilis. 

Arundo  Donax. 

Sporobolus  Wrightii. 

Three  miles  below  Eagle  Pass,  the  Rio  Escondido,  on  the  Mexican 
side,  empties  into  the  Rio  Grande.  It  is  a clear,  swift  stream  shaded 
With  Pecan,  Hackberry,  and  Wild  Mulberry  (Morus  microphylla ),  over 
which  climb  luxuriantly  the  Mustang  Grape  ( Vitis  candicans)  and  a 
quinquefoliate  form  of  Poison  Ivy.  On  the  bluffs  above  are  groves  of 
fine  Live  Oak  extending  thence,  along  the  hill  tops,  into  the  interior  of 
the  State  of  Coahuila. 

The  general  features  of  the  vegetation  do  not  change  much  down  to 
Laredo.  The  narrow  valley,  sparsely  fringed  with  timber,  is  contained 
within  lines  of  broken  bluffs,  or  cuts  its  course  through  high,  gravelly 
mesas.  It  expands  at  rare  intervals,  affording  farming  land  to  a few 
ranches.  The  shrubbery  becomes  denser,  larger,  and  extends  farther 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  475 

from  the  river;  it  now  forms  a tolerably  well  defined  wooded  belt  which 
runs  parallel  with  the  river  to  its  mouth  and  spreads  north  of  it  from 
20  to  40  miles. 

Laredo  stands  on  a broad  and  level  sandy  plain  over  which  it  has  been 
projected  to  convey  the  waters  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Mezquit  continues 
to  be  the  prevalent  shrub ; the  Huisache  ( Acacia  Farnesiana)  and  Re- 
tama  (Parkinsonia  aculeata)  are  much  more  common;  the  Colima  ( Xan - 
thoxylum  Pterota ) begins  to  appear.  In  gardens  and  yards  are  noticed 
the  elegant  Tobacco- Shrub  ( Xicotiana  glauca)  of  arborescent  size,  and 
the  Mexican  Maguey  ( Agave  Americana).  The  river  shore  is  mostly 
bare;  at  intervals  are  clumps  of  Black  Willow,  Hackberry,  Water  Elm 
( Ulmus  crassifolia ),  and  Texas  Green  Ash  (Fraxinus  viridis , var.  Ber- 
landieriana).  Along  the  water’s  edge  was  collected  a genus  of  Grass 
(Bemarthria)  new  to  the  United  States. 

Proceeding  on  the  narrow-gauged  railroad  toward  Corpus  Christi, 
one  crosses  the  undulating,  hilly  wooded  belt,  the  shrubs  being:  Mez- 
quit, Huisache,  Granjeno,  Hackberry,  Texas  Persimmon,  Parkinsonia 
aculeata  and  Texana , Condalia  obovata  and  Mexicana , Acacia  amcntacea 
and  Wrightii , Karwinskia.  Here  also  begin  to  be  seen,  in  the  wild 
state,  rare  patches  of  Maguey  ( Agave  Americana ),  which,  as  a native 
plant,  grows  very  sparsely  on  the  Texas  side  of  the  Lower  Rio  Grande. 
The  Nopal  (mostly  Opuntia  Engebnanni ),  of  very  thrifty  growth,  is  every 
where  abundant  in  the  woods  which  it  sometimes  renders  impassable. 

Opposite  Belleville,  the  Salado,  one  of  the  largest  rivers  of  Northern 
Mexico,  flows  into  the  Rio  Grande.  At  the  time  of  the  Boundary  Sur- 
vey, Cypress  ( Taxodium  distichum)  was  rather  common  on  its  shores  and 
extended  down  the  Rio  Grande  to  Roma.  It  is  quite  sparse  now  but 
is  occasionally  noticed  as  far  down  as  Edinburg.  At  Havana  Ranch  I 
saw  a fine  specimen  of  this  tree  2 feet  in  diameter. 

Below  Belleville,  bluffs  and  high  mesas  gradually  recede  while  the 
valley  widens ; much  of  it  now  is  susceptible  of  cultivation.  Roma  is 
the  head  of  high-water  navigation,  while  Rio  Grande  City  is  generally 
reached  by  steamers  at  all  stages  of  water. 

At  Rio  Grande  City  (Ringgold),  the  woody  vegetation  on  the  neighbor 
ing  bluff's  and  throughout  the  river  belt,  30  miles  or  more  wide,  is  dense, 
and  in  low  {daces  reaches  the  magnitude  of  scrub  timber.  The  nature 
of  it  has  changed ; one  now  commonly  sees : Nacahuite  ( Cordia Boissieri), 
a small  tree  with  large,  mulberry-like  leaves  and  excellent  fruit ; Bar- 
retta  ( Helietta  parvifolia ),  which,  although  a common  shrub  here,  had 
not  before  been  observed  in  the  United  States;  Ebony  {Acacia flexi- 
caulis ),  an  evergreen  shrub  or  small  round-headed  tree  1 foot  in  diame- 
ter ; Colima  (Xanihoxylum  Pterota ),  spiny  shrub  with  pungent  leaves ; 
more  rarely  Ptelea  angustifolia.  The  other  shrubs  also  growing  in  this 
locality  have  already  been  noticed.  They  are  Mezquit,  Texas  Persim- 
mon (Chapote  of  the  Mexicans),  Granjeno,  Guayacan,  Junco,  of  arbor- 


476  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


escent  size;  Coyotillo  ( Karwinskia ),  Amargoso  ( Castela  Nicholsoni),  Ziz- 
yplius , Acacia  Berlandieri  and  amentacea , only  shrubby. 

In  the  woods  below  Einggold  the  Agave  variegata  was  found.  Much 
cultivated  about  yards  are  the  Mexican  Maguey  (Agave  Americana) 
and  several  forms  of  Agave  rigida. 

The  valley  of  the  Eio  Grande,  from  3 to  4 miles  wide  at  Eio  Grande 
City,  becomes  a broad  alluvial  plain  below  Edinburg.  It  is  thinly  but 
almost  continuously  settled  from  Eoma  to  Brownsville.  It  produces, 
with  little  or  no  rain,  excellent  crops  of  Sugar  Cane,  Cotton,  Corn,  and 
all  kinds  of  vegetables  except  Potato. 

The  timber  of  the  alluvial  bottom  is  now  quite  thick  in  places,  com- 
pletely and  most  pleasantly  shading  roads  for  miles.  At  Eio  Grande 
City,  and  downward  to  Brownsville,  it  consists  of:  Black  Willow  ( Salix 
nigra) , often  2 and  3 feet  in  diameter  and  from  50  to  70  feet  high,  bear- 
ing some  resemblance  to  the  Cottonwood  of  the  middle  and  upper  river ; 
Long-leaved  Willow  ( Salix  longifolia ),  much  smaller  than  the  preced- 
ing ; Water  Elm  ( Ulmus  crassifolia ),  of  good  size ; Green  Ash  (Fraxinus 
viridis , var.  Berlandieriana)y  2 and  3 feet  in  diameter  and  50  feet  high  ; 
Huisache  and  Eetama,  middle-sized  trees;  Anaqua  (Ehretia  elliptica)y 
1 to  2 feet  in  diameter,  with  deep  green,  scabrous  foliage  and  edible  ber- 
ries; Coma  (Bumelia  lycioides ),  becoming  a tree  1 foot  in  diameter  and 
30  feet  high ; Una  de  Gato  ( Acacia  Greggii ),  8 to  10  inches  in  diameter 
and  30  feet  high;  Brasil  or  Blue- wood  ( Condalia  obovata ),  shrub  or 
small  tree;  Huajillo  ( Pithecolobium  brevifolium ),  spiny  shrub  whose 
foliage  is  eaten  by  goat  and  sheep;  Granjeno  ( Celtis  pallida ),  arbor- 
escent shrub  whose  twisted  branches  are  much  sought  after  for  canes; 
Sesbania  Cavanillesii , very  graceful  shrub  or  small  tree  with  bunches  of 
yellow  flowers  in  August  and  winged  legume ; Pecan,  a large  tree,  only 
at  a few  places,  and  probably  introduced. 

Common  and  pretty  vines  are  Ipomcea  sinuata  and  trijida , Cocculus 
diver sifoliuSj  Vitis  incisa,  Anredera  scandens , and  Vigna  luteola. 

At  Havana  Eanch  (below  Einggold),  late  in  August,  I noted  the  fol- 
lowing plants  in  bloom : 

Talinum  sarmentosum. 

Iva  ciliata. 

Acleisanthes  Berlandieri , reclining  over  low  bushes. 

Lippia  geminata,  erect,  3 to  4 feet  high. 

Salvia  coccinea. 

Mimosa  strigillosa. 

Teucrium  Gubense. 

Solanum  tectum.  ? 

Sesbania  Cavanillesii . 

Vigna  luteola. 

Marty nia  fragrans. 

Below  Edinburg  one  is  surprised  at  the  unexpected  appearance,  in 
small,  sparse  clumps,  of  a Palmetto  ( Sabal  Palmetto  $)  with  the  babit 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  477 

and  proportions  of  tlie  South  Carolina  tree.  The  Long  Moss  ( Tillandsia 
usneoides ),  found  as  far  west  as  San  Antonio,  becomes  a marked  feature 
of  the  vegetation  near  the  coast. 

At  and  about  Brownsville  the  most  common  trees  are,  as  above, 
Betama,  Huisache,  Hackberry,  Willow,  and  Mezquit,  the  latter  extend 
ing  down  the  river  nearly  to  its  mouth. 

HILLS,  BLUFFS,  AND  MESAS. 

The  most  widespread  and  common  tree  on  hills  and  bluffs,  from  the 
Canadian  Biver  to  the  Bio  Grande,  is  the  Bed  Cedar  ( Juniperus  oc- 
cidentalis  and  var.  conjungens ),  generally  of  small  size  and  gnarled 
growth.  Next  in  frequency  is  the  low  round-headed  Gray  Cak  ( Quercus 
grisea),  particularly  conspicuous  on  the  grassy  bluffs  southwest  of  Marfa. 
The  Post  Oak  (Q.  stellata)  is  found  on  ridges  near  the  Gulf  Coast  and, 
in  thin  groves,  on  high  ground  farther  inland,  north  of  the  Nueces 
Biver.  It  is  a good-sized  tree  in  the  Buffalo  Gap  Mountains,  south  of 
Abilene,  its  extreme  western  limit  in  Texas.  The  Bed  Oak  ( Q . rubra) 
often  extends  from  valleys  to  the  base  of  hills  and  mountains  but  is 
nowhere  large  or  abundant.  The  shrubby  Q.  undulata  begins  at  the 
Pecos  Biver  and  occurs  occasionally  in  clefts  of  rocky  bluffs  along  the 
Bio  Grande. 

On  some  of  the  high  ridges  and  peaks  of  the  mountainous  region  north 
of  the  Chisos  Basin,  from  the  Santiago  Bange  to  Pena  Colorado,  and 
thence  nearly  to  Fort  Davis,  are  seen  small  scattered  Nut  Pine  ( Pinus 
edulis ),  and,  at  a lower  altitude,  clumps  of  shrubby  Ash  ( Fraxinus  cus- 
pidata  and  Greggii)  and  Mulberry  (Morus  microphylla).  Nut  Pine  is 
also  sparingly  found  on  the  bluffs  of  the  forks  of  Nueces  Biver  and 
further  north  along  the  edge  of  the  escarpment  of  the  Staked  Plains. 

Very  prominent  on  foot-hills  and  bluffs  are : the  Bear- Grass  or  Sotol 
(Dasylirion  Texanum ),  the  pestilent  Lechuguilla  (Agave  heteracantha ), 
the  handsome  Jacob’s  Staff  or  (Jcotillo  ( Fouquiera  splendens)  whose 
thorny  shoots  are  tipped  with  racemes  of  scarlet  flowers,  the  forbid- 
ding Spanish  Bayonet  or  Palmo  ( Yucca  baccata)  in  all  stages  of  growth, 
the  smaller  Yucca  angustifolia , the  tufty  Nolina  Texana  and  erumpens. 

On  low  slopes  and  banks  of  ravines  abounds  the  Texas  Persimmon 
( Diospyros  Texana ),  and  common  are  several  species  of  Sumach  (Rhus 
microphylla , trilobata  and  virens). 

On  the  craggy,  limestone  hill  sides  of  the  west,  we  find  habitually  the 
Sangre  de  Dragon  (Mozinna  spathulata ),  the  leafless  Euphorbia  antisyph- 
ilitica , the  bushy  Mortonia  scabrella , the  long-tubed  Macrosiphonia  Ber- 
landieri , the  curious  moss-like  Siempre  Vive  (Selaginella  lepidophylla) 
and  its  congener  S.  rupestris , several  Ferns  (NothoUma  and  Pellcea). 

In  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Bio  Grande,  the  bluffs  are  often  covered  with 
decayed  argillaceous  schist,  giving  them  a repulsive  blackish  and  cin- 
dery  appearance.  Even  then  they  are  seldom  entirely  bare  but  mostly 


478  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

dotted  with  white  hunches  of  Common  Grama  interspersed  among  thick 
patches  of  Lechuguilla.  About  their  bases  are  thickets  of  Atriplex 
acantliocarpa  and  canescens;  Selinocarpus  diffusus , Ephedra , Larrea , Flou- 
rensia ; more  rarely  Clappia  sucedcefolia , and  always  more  or  less  Cactacece. 
Somewhat  special  to  the  gravelly  hills  of  the  Great  Bend  are:  Ayenia  Mi - 
crophylla , Cladotlirix  suffruticosa , Bouchea  spathulata , Cowania  ericcefolia, 
Boerhaavia  eriosolena , Hibiscus  Coulteri , IT.  denudatus  (var.  involucellata), 
Lycium  pallidum , Prunus  minutiflora.  On  the  bluffs  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
south  of  the  Chisos  Mountains,  mixed  with  Lechuguilla  and  nearly  as 
forbidding,  was  collected  a new  species  of  a genus  not  before  observed 
in  the  United  States — Hechtia  Texensis , Watsou. 

Mesas  are  covered  with  : 

Prosopis  juliflora. 

Zizyplius  obtusifolius. 

Condalia  obovata  and  spathulata. 

Larrea  Mexicana. 

Ephedra  antisiphylitica  and  trifurca. 

Flourensia  cernua. 

Kceberlinia  spinosa. 

The  Leucopyhllum  Texanum , so  strikingly  beautiful  with  its  purple 
flowers  and  white  foliage,  is  very  abundant  on  high  plains  west  of 
Uvalde;  in  the  Great  Bend  it  is  often  mixed  or  replaced  by  its  still 
handsomer  kin  Leucophyllum  minus.  Likewise  highly  ornamental  is  the 
spinose  Parkinsonia  Texana  on  the  Lower  Rio  Grande,  and  the  scented 
Buddleia  marrubiifolia  farther  west. 

Other  shrubs  likewise  common,  and  characteristic  of  bluffs  and  high 
mesas,  are : 

Acacia  Berlandieri , Oreggii , constricta , amentacea. 

Cassia  Wislizeni  (west  of  the  Pecos). 

Mimosa  biuncifera , borealis , Lindheimeri , dysocarpa , monancistra. 

Eysenliardtia  amorphoides . 

Dalea  form osa. 

Forestiera  angustifolia , Neo-Mexicana , pubescens  (east  of  the 
Pecos). 

Salvia  ballotceflora. 

Coldenia  Greggii , canescens , liispidissima . 

Lippia  lycioides , Wrightiiy  graveolens. 

Cercocarpus  parvifolius. 

Talinopsis  frutescens. 

Castela  Nicholsoni. 

Microrhamnus  ericoides. 

Kramer ia  canescens , parvifolia , lanceolata. 

Berber  is  trifoliata. 

Partlienium  incanum. 

Yucca  rupicola  (east  of  Devil’s  River). 

Of  herbaceous  plants,  the  most  conspicuous  belong  to  the  genera 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  479 


Mentzelia , (Enothera , Boerhaavia , Acleisanthes , Dalea , Cassia , Creggia , 
Vesicaria , Abutilon,  Menodora , Eriogonum , Croton , Euphorbia,  Biddellia , 
Bailey  a,  Zinnia , Liatris , Aplopappus , Pectis. 

In  ravines  and  canons  are  commonly  seen  several  pretty  trailers  like 
Janusia  gracilis , Bhynchosia  Texana , Phaseolus  angustissimus  and  a£ro- 
purpureus  ; the  S.carlet  Sage  ( Salvia  Greggii ),  the  showy  Tecoma  sta7is , 
and  Eucnide  bartonioides. 

Cactacece  are  never  wanting  on  broken  uplands ; the  most  common 
species  are  : Mamillaria  macromeris , meiacantha,  tuberculosa , Heyderi  ; 
Cereus  stramineus , the  noted  Strawberry  Cactus,  under  several  forms ; 
0.  chloranthus , paucispinus , enneacanthus  ; Echinocactus  longehamatus 
(Turk’s  Head),  often  a foot  in  diameter,  yielding  delicious  fruit  hardly 
inferior  in  size  or  quality  to  that  of  Cereus  stramineus  ; E.  horizonthalo- 
nius,  intertextus  ; Opuntia  frutescens , arborescens , Grahami , and  several 
flat-jointed  species. 

Nutritious  Grasses,  often  sparse  or  absent  in  valleys,  generally  cover 
bluffs  and  hills.  The  Common  Grama  (Bouteloua  oligostachya)  is  by  far 
the  most  abundant.  Other  common  species  are  Bouteloua  liirsuta,  poly- 
stachya  and  Havardi;  Cathestechum  erectum  (first ’time  collected  north 
of  the  boundary  line) ; Andropogon  scoparius  and  saccharoides  ; Aristida 
purpurea  and  dispersa  ; Elionorus  ciliaris  ; Muhlenbergia  distichophylla. 

STAKED  PLAINS. 

Under  the  name  of  Staked  Plains  is  comprised  the  vast,  rather  ill- 
defined  plateau  south  of  the  Canadian  River  Basin  and  east  of  the  Pecos; 
this  river,  bending  eastward,  also  forms  its  southwest  boundary.  It 
ends  abruptly,  by  a sudden  fall  of  several  hundred  feet,  on  the  north 
where  drained  by  the  Canadian,  and  on  the  east  where  drained  by  the 
many  heads  of  the  Brazos  and  Red  River.  Judging  from  the  general 
direction  of  the  water-courses,  this  plateau  slopes  down  insensibly  to- 
wards the  south  and  east.  There  is  no  topographical  feature  separating 
it  on  the  southeast  from  the  sandy  plains  of  the  Colorado  and  Concho 
Rivers.  On  the  Texas  Pacific  Railroad,  the  traveler  may  be  said  to 
enter  the  Staked  Plains  at  about  Big  Spring,  although,  at  this  latitude, 
the  escarpment  so  conspicuous  farther  north  is  hardly  perceptible. 

There  is  no  stream  on  the  Plains.  Salt  lakes,  ponds  and  holes,  rarely 
fresh- water  springs,  are  found  in  the  long-winding  canons  and  valleys 
which  open  into  the  rivers  named  above.  At  several  places  along  the 
Texas  Pacific  Railroad  excellent  water  in  fair  abundance  was  struck 
at  a depth  of  about  50  feet.  It  is  quite  probable  that  water  could  be 
obtained  by  digging  or  boring  over  many  portions  of  the  Plains.  The 
western  belt,  along  the  Pecos,  unsuccessfully  bored  by  Captain  Pope  in 
1856,  seems  in  this  respect  the  most  unpromising. 

The  Northern  Plains  consist  mostly  of  level  or  undulating  prairies 
covered  with  good  grass.  Large  bodies  of  cavalry  have  several  times 


480  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


traversed  them  without  enduring  special  hardships  or  privations.  They 
have  but  few  sand  belts  and  grass  seldom  fails ; the  only  apprehension 
in  dry  seasons  is  about  potable  water.  v 

The  Southern  Plains  are  much  more  barren ; they  include  the  noto- 
rious Sand  Hills  and  large  arenaceous  sterile  areas  entirely  destitute  of 
surface  water.  No  one  can  venture  over  them  without  running  serious 
risk  from  scarcity  of  water,  or  sand-storms. 

Big  Spring  is  on  the  southeastern  edge  of  the  plains.  This  very  re- 
markable spring,  by  far  the  most  important  between  the  Colorado  and 
the  Pecos,  issues  from  under  a cliff  at  the  head  of  a ravine.  In  this 
as  in  the  many  other  ravines  running  into  the  dry  arroyo  called  Giraud’s 
Creek,  there  is  more  or  less  arborescent  vegetation.  Hackberry  and 
Willow  predominate ; Red  Cedar  and  Gray  Oak  are  common  on  the  hills 
but  neither  of  useful  size.  Conspicuous  on  the  slopes  are  the  tall  Eri- 
ogonum  alatum , the  humbler  E.  Jamesii , the  bushy  Hymenatherum  acero- 
sum , and  on  the  plains  below  the  showy  Aplopappus  ciliatus  and  Eryngium 
Leavenworthii.  One  or  two  species  of  Aristida , Bouteloua , Sporobolus , 
and  Triodia  are  the  ordinary  grasses. 

For  several  miles  west  of  Big  Spring  there  is  a thick  growth  of  shrubby 
Mezquit;  it  becomes  gradually  thinner  and  disappears  about  18  miles 
out.  The  flat,  barren  plains  show  large  bald  areas ; patches  of  Panicum 
obtusum  and  Brizopyrum  spicatum  here  and  there  cover  the  alkaline  soil. 

Mustang  Spring  lies  in  one  of  the  drains  of  the  Concho,  where  crossed 
by  the  Texas  Pacific  Railroad.  Here  brackish  water  gravitates  into  a 
small  basin  and  is  obtained  at  a depth  of  a few  feet.  This  basin  is 
covered  with  Hdianthus  lenticularis , Aplopappus  rubiginosus , Flaveria 

, Bigelovia  Wrightii , and  Sporobolus  airoides.  On  surrounding- 

mesas  is  a fair  amount  of  Common  Grama. 

Following  the  railroad  (past  Midway  Station)  over  the  level  prairie, 
burned  in  places  by  locomotive  sparks,  I noted  the  trailing  Tribulus 
maximus , the  common  weeds  Nama  hispidum  and  Coldenia  hispidissima , 
the  pretty  and  ephemeral  Portulaca  pilosa  and  a homely  form  of  (Eno - 
thera  Greggii  with  blotched  ovate  leaves. 

Odessa  Station  stands  in  the  midst  of  a prairie  district,  and  as  the 
vegetation  hereabout  is  more  or  less  typical  of  that  of  the  better  parts 
of  the  Staked  Plains  1 shall  briefly  describe  it.  Bushes  are  scant- and 
dwarfed  ; they  consist  of  Mezquit  only  1 or  2 feet  high,  a very  slender 
form  of  Yucca  angustifolia , the  Creosote-bush  (Larrea  Mexicana ),  the  Lote- 
bush  ( Zizyphus  obtusifolius ),  Canatilla  {Ephedra  trifurca).  The  most 
common  non-ligneous  plants  are  : 

Verbena  canescens  and  bracteosa. 

Nyctaginia  capitata. 

Allionia  incarnata. 

Solanum  elceagnifolium. 

Physalis  hedercefolia , and  mollis , var.  cinerascens. 

Groton  corymbulosus  and  Texensis. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  481 


Vol.  Till,  To.  31.  Washington,  D.  C.  Sept.  S3,  1885. 


Euphorbia  versicolor. 

Aphora  Neo-Mexicana. 

Phyllanthus  polygonoides. 

Argyrothamnia  Neo-Mexicana. 

XEnothera  Hartwegi  and  Greggii. 

Mentzelia  nuda. 

Hoffmanseggia  stricta  and  Jamesii. 

Dalea  nana. 

Psoralea  tenuiflora. 

Collomia  longiflora. 

Plantago  Virginica. 

Also  the  following  Composites : 

Riddellia  tagetina. 

Gutierrezia  eriocarpa. 

Stephanomeria  minor. 

Grindelia  squarrosa. 

Helianthus  ciliaris. 

Melampodium  cinereum . 

Thelesperma  gracile. 

Gaillardia  pulchella. 

Pectis  angustifolia  and  papposa. 

Lindkeim  eri a Texana. 

Zinnia  grandiflora. 

Lygodesmifi  aphylla. 

And  the  following  Grasses  : 

Bouteloua  oligostachya , hirsuta , racemosa , eriopoda. 

Aristida  purpurea  and  stricta. 

Andropogon  saccharoides. 

Clitoris  cucullata. 

Eragrostis  poceoides , var.  megastachya. 

On  the  bluffs  edging  the  northeastern  border  of  the  Plains,  we  find  a 
few  Nut  Pine  ( Pinus  edulis ),  many  straggling  groves  of  small  Cedar 
( Juniperus  occidental^ ),  dwarf  Gray  Oak  (Quercus  grisea)  and  var  .pun- 
gens  of  Q.  undulata.  The  grass  is  abundant  and  nutritious. 

West  of  Odessa,  about  20  miles,  the  sand  zone  begins,  running  south 
and  east  nearly  to  the  Pecos,  and  north  to  the  very  center  of  the  Plains. 
In  this  zone  are  the  Sand  Hills,  a dreary,  chaotic  belt  of  reddish  sand  tossed 
by  the  wind  into  hillocks,  cones  and  ridges  of  various  sizes  and  shapes. 
In  these  dunes  I found  but  four  shrubs  : Mezquit,  of  a rather  vigorous 
growth,  hinting  at  the  presence  of  water  in  some  substratum  within 
the  reach  of  its  long,  penetrating  roots;  a “Shin”  Oak,  form  closely 
allied  to  var.  Jamesii  of  Quercus  undulata , spreading  into  a low  thicket, 
with  shallow,  strongly  tuberculated  cups  and  very  large,  edible  acorns ; 

Proc.  Nat.  Mus.  85 31 


482  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


the  slender-stemmed  Acacia  constricta , and  the  ample-panicled  Bigelovia 
pulchella.  Common  also  is  a narrow-leaved,  large-fruited  form  of  Yucca 
angustifolia. 

The  other  plants  noted  in  the  Sand  Hills  are  : (Enothera  trichocalyx , 
rhomboidea  and  serrulata ; the  tail  Gaura  villosa , with  crisp,  silvery 
leaves . ; a large-flowered  flax  ( Linum  Berlandieri ) ; the  showy  Heliotro- 
pium  convolvulaceum  ; the  remarkable  spectacle-fruited  Bithyrcea  Wis- 
lizeni;  a small-flowered  form  of  Jatropha  Texana , and — CristatellaJamesiiy 
Hoffmanseggia  Jamesii . Dalea  lanata , Abronia,  fragrans , Oxybaphus  an - 
gustifolius , Pentstemon  ambiguus , Oldenlandia  humifusa , Artemisia  Can- 
adensis and  filifolia,  Gaillardia  pulcliella,  Palafoxia  Hoolceriana. 

The  only  Grasses  seen  were  a stout  Andropagon  (near  A.furcatus ),  3 to 
5 feet  high,  with  running  roots  holding  the  loose  soil  in  their  meshes; 
a Sporobolus  (probably  form  of  8.  cryptandrus ),  likewise  erect  and  tall  ; 
and  a large  form  of  Cenchrus  myosuroides. 

PBAIRIES. 

East  of  the  Staked  Plains,  above,  and  of  the  Pecos,  below,  the  land 
of  Western  and  Southern  Texas,  either  as  broken  plain  or  undulating 
prairie,  is  more  or  less  covered  with  nutritious  grass,  and  its  capability 
for  the  raising  of  stock  is  chiefly  limited  by  the  water  supply. 

In  the  Pan  Handle  the  grass  is  abundant  and  nutritious,  but  water  is 
scant  away  from  the  Canadian  and  the  forks  of  the  Bed  Biver. 

West  of  the  Pecos  there  is  a vast  prairie  region  bounded  about  as  fol- 
lows : East,  by  a line  running  from  the  mouth  of  San  Francisco  Creek  to 
Fort  Davis ; north,  by  the  Limpio  Mountains  and  the  line  of  hills  and 
bluffs  extending  thence  to  Sierra  Blanca  ; west  and  south,  by  the  moun- 
tain ranges  lining  the  valley  of  the  Bio  Grande,  viz.,  Eagle,  Vieja,  Ca- 
pote, Chenate,  Bofecillos,  and  Chisos  Mountains,  thus  excluding  the  Bio 
Grande  Yalley  and  the  Chisos  Basin.  Within  these  limits  the  grass 
can  hardly  be  excelled.  Unfortunately  water  is  very  scarce;  there  is 
no  running  stream,  permanent  springs  are  few,  and  most  of  the  water- 
holes  give  out  in  dry  seasons.  There  is  hardly  any  doubt  that  in  many 
places  an  abundant  supply  could  be  obtained  by  boring,  as  at  Marfa. 
This  prairie  region  is  traversed  by  many  ranges  of  hills  and  bluffs,  and 
cut  up  by  many  arroyos  and  ravines ; much  of  it,  however,  is  simply 
undulating  or  nearly  level.  At  Marfa,  the  eye  ranges  in  all  directions 
over  a vast  expanse  of  meadow  land,  level  and  smooth  like  a sea  of 
grass. 

Other  excellent  prairie  land,  west  of  the  Pecos,  deserves  mention : A 
large  area  watered  by  Independence  Creek  and  extending  thence  to- 
wards Meyer’s  Spring;  the  Delaware  Creek  Basin,  and  the  eastern 
base  of  the  Guadalupe  Mountains  north  of  this  creek ; the  belt  from 
the  Cornudas  to  the  Hueco  Mountains  extending  north  and  south 
many  miles. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  483 

West  of  the  Santiago  Range,  between  it  and  San  Jacinto  Peak,  is  a 
vast  plain,  timberless  and  waterless,  but  mostly  covered  with  good  grass. 
If  water  could  be  struck  in  places  by  boring,  or  collected  in  tanks,  it 
would  afford  miles  of  excellent  pasturage. 

The  gramineous  vegetation  of  the  prairie  consists  chiefly  of  the  fol- 
lowing species,  arranged  as  far  as  possible  in  the  order  of  their  worth : 

Bucliloe  dactyloides  (Buffalo-Grass),  east  of  the  Pecos. 

Bouteloua  oligostacliya , Mrsuta , eriopoda , racemosa  (Gramas). 

Pappopliorum  Wrightii. 

Triodia  acuminata  and  pulchella. 

Hilaria  m utica  (north)  and  cenchroides  (south). 

Aristida  purpurea,  dispersa , Schiediana,  stricta. 

Muhlenbergia  Texana  and  arenicola. 

Andropogon  saccharoid.es  and  scoparius. 

Lycurus  phleoides. 

Panicum  obtusum , leucophceum , ILallii. 

Setaria  caudata. 

The  prairie,  although  apparently  smooth,  is  seldom  entirely  free  from 
shrubby  plants,  of  which  the  most  common  are : A slender,  straggling 
form  of  Clematis  Brummondii  $ a small,  branching  variety  of  Acacia  fil - 
icina  (A.  Hartwegi  of  Bentham);  dwarf  Mezquit,  Microrhamnus  ericoides , 
Zizyplius  obtusifolius , Ephedra  trifurca  and  antisyphilitica , Larrea  Mexi - 
cana , Yucca  angustifolia,  Nolina  Texana , Opuntia  arborescens. 

During  the  summer  the  prairie  is  decked  with  the  blossoms  of  the 
following  herbs : 

Talinum  aurantiacum. 

Calophanes  linearis. 

Linum  Berlandieri  and  rigidum . 

Callirrhoe  pedata  and  digitata. 

Sida  physocalyx  and  diffusa . 

Sphceralcea  hastulata. 

JVyctaginia  capitata. 

Abronia  turbinata. 

Oxybaphus  angustifolius  and  aggregatus . 

Cooperia  Brummondii. 

Pliaseolus  retusus. 

Bhynchosia  Texana. 

Petalostemon  candidus  and  multijlorus . 

Verbena  bipinnatifida. 

Chamcesaracha  Coronopus. 

Solanum  elceagnifolium. 

Tradescantia  Virginica. 

Commelina  Virginica  and  dianthifolia. 

Salvia  lanceolata. 


484  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED 


STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


Tetraclea  Coulteri. 
Eriogonum  annuum. 
Croton  corymbulosus. 
Asclepias  Jamesii. 
Senecio  longilobus. 
Gaillardia  pulcliella. 
Biddellia  tagetinci. 
Aplopappus  spinulosus. 
Gutierrezia  criocarpa. 
Lygodesmia  apliylla. 
Aster  tanacetifolius. 
Thelesperma  gracile. 


That  large  portion  of  Southeastern  Texas  included  between  the  coast, 
the  Rio  Grande  and  the  Nueces  River,  is  a sandy,  dry,  riverless  country 
but  mostly  covered  with  fair  grass,  and  therefore  entitled  to  consid 
eration  under  the  heading  of  prairie.  On  account  of  its  peculiar  vege 
tatiou  I have  deemed  best  to  describe  it  separately. 

Zones  of  chaparral  and  small  timber  traverse  it  in  several  directions 
and  trees  of  good  size : Hackberrv,  Mezquit,  Huisache,  rarel,\  Wa 
ter  Elm  and  Green  Ash,  fringe  the  dry  forks  and  beds  of  the  Olmoaj 
San  Diego,  and  Banquete  Creeks.  The  absence  of  surface  water  am 
the  uncertainty  of  obtaining  it  by  deep  boring,  render  the  settlement  o, 

much  of  this  vast  region  problematical. 

Following  the  narrow-ganged  railroad  from  Laredo,  one  crosses  tin 
chaparral  belt,  extending  nearly  40  miles  out;  then  begin  undulat.n, 
plains  of  red  sand  covered  mostly  with  a coarse  bunch-grass  (stout 
nearly  smooth,  form  of  Elionurus  eiUatus) ; Aristida purpurea  and  6 pore 
bolus  cryptandrus  are  also  common,  and  always  abundant  about  sett 
ments  the  very  obnoxious  Sand-bur  (Cenclirus  tnbuloides\  Near  th 
Rio  Grande  and  the  coast,  the  Texas  Grama  (Bouteloua  Texana ) an 
Bermuda  Grass  [Cynodon  Dactylon)  are  common,  while  the  Oouimo 
Grama  ( Bouteloua  oligostaehya)  is  only  rarely  seen. 

The  open,  grassy  plain  is  about  35  miles  in  width,  measured  by  th 
railroad  track.  Ten  or  15  miles  east  of  Pena  Station  the  shrubbery  b> 
gins  again  and  grows  denser  and  larger  until  San  Diego  is  reache. 
Farther  on,  it  decreases  and  dwindles  down  to  scrubby  chaparral,  whic 
in  places  entirely  disappears,  leaving  the  ground  covered  with  thi 
and  sparse  grass  or,  in  dry  seasons,  quite  bare.  Beyond  Collins  tl 
level  land  is  lined  for  miles  with  a thick  sod  of  excellent  grass. 

On  approaching  Corpus  Christi  the  chaparral  becomes  thicker,  bi 
remains  low  and  stunted.  Clumps  or  “ motts  ” of  Live  Oak  occur  fa 
ther  south  on  the  sandy  plains  between  the  Olinos,  the  Rio  Grande,  ai 
the  coast ; the  trees  are  small  and  not  of  much  account. 

Pena  Station  stands  in  the  midst  of  the  central  grassy  plain  describ. 
above.  The  loose,  sandy  soil  is  mostly  covered  with  the  form  of  M 


885.  J PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  485 

urus  ciliatus  already  mentioned.  Late  in  August  I noted  about  here 
he  handsome  Lantana  Camara , which  cattle  seem  to  avoid,  the  sting- 
og  Jatropha  Texana , the  purple-flowered  Callirrhoe  involucrata , and 
jeveral  pretty  Leguminosse,  viz.,  Hoffmanseggia  caudata , Cassia  procum- 
ens , Zornia  tetraphylla , Indigofera  leptosepala , Tephrosia  Lindheimeri. 
)ther  conspicuous  plants  were  Heliotropium  convolvulaceum,  Comme- 
Ina  Virginica,  Palafoxia  Hookeriana , Gaillardia  pulcliella , Monarda 
unctata , var.  lasiodonta , a form  with  very  narrow  leaves.  More  homely 

nd  common  herbs  are,  Croton , tall  and  branching,  Carlowrightia 

arvi folia,  Diodia  teres , Lippia  nodiflora , Acalyplia  radians , Gonolobus 
arviflorus. 


COAST. 

The  vicinity  of  the  sea  does  not  appear  to  have  any  favorable  influ- 
□ce  on  either  the  nature  or  vigor  of  the  vegetation.  From  the  mouth 
f the  Eio  Grande  to  Corpus  Christi  the  coast  is  low,  mostly  bare,  and 
nattractive.  The  trees  or  arborescent  shrubs  seen  at  the  above  town 
re  Mezquit,  mostly  shrubby,  extending  to  the  very  edge  of  the  bay,  Hui- 
iche  and  Eetama,  both  of  large  size  and  much  cultivated,  Ebony 
\.cacia  flexicaulis,  Black  Willow.  Hackberry,  Texas  Persimmon.  These 
•ees,  or  some  of  them,  with  the  addition  of  the  Green  Ash,  the  Water 
lm  ( minus  crassifolia ),  Anaqua  ( Ehretia  elliptica)  and  Naeahuite 
lordia  Boissieri)  are  seen  in  thin  fringes  on  many  of  the  drains,  arroyos 
id  creeks  opening  into  the  sea. 

Of  the  trees  or  shrubs  introduced  at  Corpus  Christi,  the  Tamarisk,  2 
et  in  diameter,  China  Tree  ( Melia ),  Eed  Mulberry,  Osage  Orange  and 
leander  are  quite  thrifty. 

The  scrubby  chaparral,  extending  from  the  shore  inward  for  several 
iles,  consists  mostly  of  Mezquit,  Granjeno,  Texas  Persimmon,  Junco, 
Dyotillo  ( Karwinskia ),  Acacia  amentacea  and  flexicaulis , Condalia  obo- 
ita,  Castela  A icholsoni^  JLantlioxylum  Pterota , Lippia  lycioides , Berberis 
ifoliata , Lantana  Camara , Aster  Palmeri. 

The  vines  are  Anredera  scandens , Vitis  incisa , Serjania  brachycarpa , 
aximowiczia  Lindheimeri. 

Of  Grasses,  the  most  common  are  Bermuda  Grass  (Cynodon  Dactylon ), 
ristida  purpurea , Bouteloua  Texana , Eragrostis  reptans , and  Eleusine 
Igyptica. 


MOUNTAINS. 

The  principal  mountain  ranges  of  Texas  are  the  Guadalupe,  Limpio, 
igle,  Chenate,  and  Chisos,  all  lying  beyond  the  Pecos,  in  the  western 
rt  of  the  State.  They  extend  from  the  border  of  New  Mexico  south- 
stward  into  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Eio  Grande.  Other  elevations, 
th  an  altitude  of  1,200  feet  or  less,  also  called  mountains,  intervene 
tween  these  ranges  and  are  also  seen  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Brazos 


486  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


and  the  Colorado,  but  their  vegetation  does  not  materially  differ  from 
that  of  hills  and  bluffs. 

Guadalupe  Peak,  the  highest  in  Texas,  stands  about  9,000  feet  above 
the  sea.  Limpio  Peak  and  the  dome  of  the  Chenates  are  from  500  to 
800  feet  lower,  and  lower  still  are  the  Chisos  Mountains.  Eagle  Mountain 
has  the  least  altitude,  not  exceeding  7,000  feet. 

Good,  serviceable  timber  is  only  found  in  the  Guadalupe  and  Limpio 
Mountains.  There  is  much  arboreal  vegetation  in  the  other  mountains 
but  hardly  of  sufficient  size  for  the  saw  mill.  Several  species  of  Pine 
thrive  in  the  Guadalupe  and  Limpio  ranges;  one  species  only,  the  Nut 
Pine,  grows  on  the  Chisos,  and  very  sparingly  on  the  north  slope  of  the 
dome  of  the  Chinates.  There  is  none  on  Eagle  Mountain. 

GUADALUPE  MOUNTAINS. 

These  mountains,  on  the  south  and  west,  are  bounded  by  a chain  of 
salt  lakes  stretching  along  the  middle  of  wide  alkali  plains;  on  the  con- 
trary, their  eastern  base  is  covered  with  excellent  grass  and  watered 
by  permanent  springs  and  brooks  on  which  grow  large  Cottonwood. 

They  are  well  timbered  on  their  broad  summit  (about  300  feet  lower 
than  the  peak),  and  more  or  less  on  their  eastern  side,  with  Pine,  Oak 
and  Cedar,  but  the  height  and  abruptness  of  the  cliffs  which  encompass 
the  forest  would  prove  quite  an  obstacle  to  the  removal  of  lumber. 

The  species  of  Pine  are:  Yellow  Pine  (Pinus ponderosa),  the  prevalent 
and  most  valuable  large  tree,  30  to  50  feet  high  and  with  trunk  1 to  2 
feet  in  diameter,  extending  from  the  summit  to  the  base  of  the  mount- 
ain; Flexible  Pine  ( Pinus  flexilis ),  smaller  than  the  Iasi,  with  trunk 
seldom  exceeding  1 foot  in  diameter,  and  hardly  found  below  the  sum- 
mit; Nut  Pine  ( Pinus  edulis ),  a low,  twisted  tree  straggling  on  the 
slopes ; useless  for  lumber. 

The  only  Fir  seen  here,  or  anywhere  in  Western  Texas,  is  the  Pseudo - 
tsuga  (Abies)  Douglasii , a fine  tree,  next  in  prevalence  and  size  to  the 
Yellow  Pine. 

The  principal  and  characteristic  “ Cedar  w of  these  mountains  is  the 
Thick-bark  Juniper  (Juniperus  pacliyphlcea ),  very  common  about  Pine 
Spring  and  the  only  kind  seen  on  the  foot-hills.  It  has  a short  trunk, 
seldom  10  feet  high,  and  from  1 to  3 feet  in  diameter.  A smaller  and 
rarer  Juniper  seen  in  some  of  the  interior  canons,  is  Juniperus  occiden- 
talism var.  conjungens. 

The  Oaks  are  : Gray  Oak  ( Quercus  grisea ),  everywhere  abundant,  from 
a bush  to  a small  round  tree  seldom  a foot  in  diameter  ; Wavy  Oak  (Q. 
undulata ),  very  common  under  two  or  three  forms,  especially  the  bushy 
var.  pungenSs  near  Pine  Spring,  and  var.  Gambelii , on  the  summit,  a 
small  shrub  or  gnarled  tree  20  feet  high  ; Chesnut  Oak  ( Q . Muhlenber- 
gii ),  in  canons,  a rather  rare  but  handsome  tree  30  to  40  feet  high. 

The  other  trees  are:  The  Madrona  ( Arbutus  Xalapensis ),  common  as 
a shrub,  rare  as  a small  tree  a foot  in  diameter  ; the  Red  Ash  (Fraxinus 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  487 

pubescens ),  sparingly  seen  as  a shrub  or  small  tree  on  the  summit;  Frax- 
inus  pistacicefolia,  shrub  or  small  tree  from  10  to  30  feet  high,  gen- 
erally near  water;  the  Wild  Mulberry  (Mortis  microphylla),  in  canons, 
mostly  small,  an  exceptional  specimen  (with  very  small,  undivided 
leaves),  measuring  15  inches  in  diameter ; a Maple  ( Acer  grandidentatum ), 
uncommon  shrub  or  middle-sized  tree,  in  canons,  also  found  in  the  Organ 
Mountains;  Acacia  Greggii , small  tree,  oftener  a shrub  ; a Maguey  (Agave 
Wislizeni *),  which  may  be  placed  here,  very  common  on  the  slopes  but 
smaller  than  the  form  of  the  same  species  growing  in  the  Chenate  and 
Chisos  Mountains. 

To  this  list  we  should  add,  as  usual,  the  Mesquite,  Hackberry,  Soap- 
berry, Nogal,  and  Mexican  Buckeye. 

The  principal  and  characteristic  shrubs,  or  bushy  ligneous  plants, 
are: 

On  the  summit : 

Cercocarpus  parvifolius. 

Symphoricarpus  rotundifolius  and  longiflorus. 

Wliipplea  Utahensis. 

Ribes  viscossissimum. 

Neillia  Torreyi. 

In  canons : 

Ptelea  trifoliata. 

Rhamnus  Purshiana. 

Lonicera  dumosa. 

Fendlera  rupicola. 

Forestiera  Neo-Mexicana. 

Robinia  Neo-Mexicana. 

Sopliora  secundiflora. 

Vitis  riparia. 

Ampelopsis  quinquefolia. 

Berberis  Fremonti  and  repens . 

Astrophyllum  dumosum. 

Brickellia  baccharidea. 

On  foot-hills : ' 

Dalea  formosa. 

Acacia  constructa. 

Mimosa  biuncifera. 

Ceanothus  Greggii. 

Cercocarpus  parvifolius,  var.  paucidentatus. 

Prunus  Capuli  f 

Spirea  ccespitosa  (crevices  of  rocks). 

Garry  a ovata  (first  time  collected  in  U.  S.). 

Kramer  ia  par vi flora,  var.  ramossissima. 

* Referred  to  this  species  by  Dr.  Engelmann.  This  is  the  Maguey  found  in  all  the 
mountains  of  Western  Texas.  It  is  allied  to  A.  Americana  and  A.  Parryi , but  well 
distinguished  from  both. 


488 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


Rhus  virens  and  copallina. 

Mortonia  scabrella. 

Chrysactinia  Mexicana. 

Diplopappus  ericoides. 

Brickellia  Wrightii  and  hrachyphylla. 

Thymophylla  Greggii. 

Parthenium  incanum. 

Eupatorium  Wrightii . 

Heliomeris  tenuifolia. 

Of  the  large  number  of  herbs  observed  in  these  mountains,  the  most 
conspicuous  and  characteristic  are — 

On  foot-hills : 

Nama  origanifolium  (on  rocks,  first  time  collected  in  U.  S.). 
Linum  Berlandieri  and  rigidum. 

Balea  aurea  and  frutescens. 

Peteria  scoparia. 

Salvia  chamccdryoides,  farinacea  and  lanceolata. 

Seymeria  scabra. 

Pentstemon  barbatus , var.  Torreyi. 

Spliceralcea  Fendleri  and  var.  dissecta . 

Erysimum  asperum. 

Menodora  longiflora  and  heterophylla . 

Phlox  nana. 

On  the  summit  and  upper  slopes  : 

Silene  laciniata , var.  Greggii. 

Fraser  a speciosd. 

Geranium  ccespitosum. 

Campanula  rotundifolia  (with  white  flowers). 

Gilia  aggregata , rigidula  (and  var.  acerosa). 

Erysimum . 

In  canons : 

Linum  Greggii. 

Ipomcea  Lindheimeri , coccinea  (var.  hederifolia ),  Mexicana . 
Maurandia  Wislizeni. 

Mirabilis  multiflora. 

Composites  (herbaceous): 

Artemisia  Ludoviciana  and  dracunculoides . 

Liatris  punctata. 

Baccharis  Havardi  (Gray,  n.  sp.). 

RiddelUa  tagetina. 

Hymenatherum  acerosum  and  tenuifolium . 

Gallardia  pinnatifida. 

Leucampyx  Newberry i (on  summit). 

Berlandiera  lyrata. 

Engelmannia  pinnatifida. 

Thelesperma  longipes  and  gracile. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  489 

Aplopappus  spinulosus , blephariphyUus , rubiginosus . 

Chrysopsis  villosa  (vars.  canescens  and  foliosa). 

Actinella  scaposa  (var.  linearis)  and  linearifolia. 

Bidens  Bigelovii. 

Senecio  longilobus. 

Aster  multiflorus. 

Helianthus  petiolaris  and  lenticularis. 

Grasses : 

Bouteloua  oligostachya , racemosa  (var.  aristosa ),  eriopoda. 

Andropogon  saccharoides  and  furcatus. 

Muhlenbergia  Texana,  pauciflora,  arenicola , setifolia  (Vasey,  n.  sp). 

Hilaria  mutica. 

Pappophorum  Wrightii. 

Triodia  acuminata. 

Sporobolus  asperifolius. 

Eragrostis  tenuis  and  capillar  is. 

Setaria  caudata. 

Aristida  dispersa  and  purpurea. 

About  3 miles  northeast  of  Pihe  Spring  is  a small  valley  down  which 
runs  Five  Spring  Creek,  and  containing  large  Cottonwood  and  Chestnut 
Oak.  A giant  Sunflower  {Helianthus  grosse-serra  tus),  a large  flowered  form 
of  (Enothera  biennis  and  the  Water  Hemlock  ( Cicuta  maculata)  thrive  in 
the  marshy  ground,  mixed  with  Cat- tail  (Typha  latifolid)  and  Wild  Broom 
Corn  ( Phragmites  communis).  A few  miles  further  is  another  pretty 
brook  (Marr’s  Creek),  shaded  with  Ash  (Fraxinus pis taci'cc folia ) and  Black 
willow.  The  grazing  is  excellent  in  the  foot-hills.  At  Grapevine  Creek 
there  is  hardly  any  timber,  but  the  grass  continues  fine. 

Snake  Spring,  a large  body  of  slightly  saline  water,  issues  from  the 
ground  about  2 miles  from  the  base  of  the  mountain.  The  grazing  in 
its  immediate  vicinity  is  p<3or,  but  the  possibility  of  irrigation  permits 
the  raising  of  corn  and  vegetables.  The  country  improves  and  fine 
rolling  j)rairies  are  passed  on  the  way  north  to  Brigg’s  Ranch.  Black 
River,  where  the  road  strikes  it,  is  dry  and  timberless.  Brigg’s  Creek, 
a permanent,  salt-water  stream,  has  its  source  in  the  foot-hills  under  a 
bower  of  Hackberry,  Soax>berry,  and  Sumac  (Rhus  copallina). 

The  mountain,  here,  is  hardly  more  than  a high  table-land,  gradually 
sloping  northward  to  the  level  of  the  plain.  It  is  bare  of  arborescent 
vegetation,  and  mostly  covered  with  the  exceedingly  noisome  Lechu- 
guilla.  The  leaves  of  this  Agave  change  very  little,  but  the  variations 
of  its  fruiting  stem — from  a stalk  the  thickness  of  the  little  finger,  and 
3 to  5 feet  high,  bearing  few  sessile,  geminate  pods,  to  a stalk  1 J-inches 
thick  and  10  feet  high,  bearing  an  ami>le  pyramidal  i)anicle  4 feet  long — 
are  puzzling  and  interesting. 

A foot-trail,  up  Rattlesnake  Canon  and  over  a rocky  divide,  led  us  into 
Guadalupe  Canon,  a xncturesque  mountain  valley  in  the  heart  of  the 
range,  fairly  timbered  with  Chestnut  Oak  and  Gray  Oak,  Cottonwood, 


490  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


Juniper,  Maple,  Madrona,  Choke-cherry,  Mulberry,  Willow,  Shrubby 
Trefoil,  &c.  The  Arroyo  Grape  ( Vitis  riparia)  is  abundant  in  places. 
About  8 miles  above  the  point  where  the  trail  joins  the  canon,  Pine  tim- 
ber begins,  and  is  thereafter  quite  common  southward.  Near  its  head 
the  canon  spreads  out  and  discloses  vast  grassy  slopes  covered  with 
fine  groves  of  large  Gray  Oak. 

On  old  trails  are  found  mescal  pits  where  the  Indians  used  to  bake 
the  bulbous  bases  of  the  Agave  Wislizenij  the  common  Maguey  of  these 
mountains. 

FROM  THE  GUADALUPE  MOUNTAINS  TO  EL  PASO. 

West  of  the  Guadalupe  Range,  on  the  El  Paso  road,  are  small,  iso- 
lated mountains:  The  Cornudas,  irregular  agglomerations  of  huge  vol- 
canic boulders;  Wind,  Alamo,  and,  farther  west,  Hueco  Mountains,  all 
containing,  in  the  shelter  of  canons,  a fair  growth  of  small  timber,  consist- 
ing principally  of  Gray  Oak  ( Quercus  grisea ),  under  several  interesting 
forms  which  seem  to  connect  it  with  Q.  Emoryi , and  Red  Cedar  (Juni- 
perus  occidentalis ),  the  latter  bearing  a peculiar  pink-berried  Mistletoe 
( Phoradendron  Bolleanum).  On  the  southwest  slope  of  Alamo  Mount- 
ain is  a seeping  spring  around  which  stands  a conspicuous  grove  of 
Cottonwood;  it  might  prove  interesting  to  speculate  upon  the  manner 
of  introduction  of  this  tree  at  this  remotely  isolated  point. 

From  the  Cornudas  to  the  Hueco  Mountains,  the  luxuriant  grass 
(mostly  Gramas)  could  hardly  be  excelled  in  quantity  and  quality;  un- 
fortunately, water  is  almost  entirely  absent. 

LIMPIO  MOUNTAINS. 

These  mountains  consist  of  several  ranges  extending  north  and  west 
from  Fort  Davis  for  many  miles.  Several  of  their  summits  and  slopes 
are  finely  timbered,  while  the  main  valleys  *are  watered  by  clear,  swift 
brooks  emptying  into  the  Limpio.  Northeast  of  Limpio  Peak  is  the 
u Pinery,”  where  a Government  saw-mill  has  been  in  operation  for  sev- 
eral years. 

The  timber  trees  are:  Yellow  Pine  {Pinus ponderosa),  most  prevalent, 
yielding  clear  lumber  18  inches  wide ; Flexible  Pine  {Pinus  flexilis ),  of 
about  the  same  size  but  not  so  common ; Nut  Pine  ( Pinus  edulis ),  plen- 
tiful on  lower  ridges  and  in  valleys,  often  large  enough  to  be  sawn  but 
making  inferior  lumber;  Thick-bark  Juniper  {Juniperus  pachyphloea),  the 
only  kind  seen  in  the  Pine  district. 

Along  the  branches  of  the  Limpio,  grow:  A shrubby  Oak  {Quercus 
hypoleuca ),  not  before  observed  outside  of  Arizona ; a somewhat  larger 
kind,  Quercus  rubra , var.  Texana , and  scattered  specimens  of  Texas 
Green  Ash.  The  horridly  spinose  Adolphia  infesta  is  abundant  on  in- 
terior foot-hills,  and  the  hardly  less  obnoxious  Ceanothus  Fendleri  hedges 
many  arroyos.  A new  Astragalus  {A.  giganteus , Watson),  remarkable 
for  its  size,  was  collected  near  the  base  of  Limpio  Peak. 

Fort  Davis  stands  under  the  Limpio  Mountains,  at  an  altitude  of 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  491 


4.700  feet.  Common  here  and  in  the  foot-hills  are  the  small  Gray  Oak 
and  Emory’s  Oak  ( Quercus  Emoryi).  The  latter  is  larger  than  the  pre- 
ceding and  of  more  elegant  port  and  foliage.  On  the  El  Paso  road, 
where  it  skirts  the  southern  base  of  the  mountains,  this  stately  Oak  be- 
comes the  main  feature  of  the  sylva ; its  straight  trunk  is  from  2 to  4 
feet  in  diameter  while  the  dark  mass  of  shining  foliage  reaches  the 
height  of  60  feet.  Here,  also,  the  Nut  Pine  attains  the  unusual  size  of 
18  inches  in  diameter  and  40  feet  in  height. 

In  canons  near  the  Post,  and  on  surrounding  cliffs,  are  found : Frijo 
lillo  ( tSophora  secundiflora ),  Cedar  ( Juniperus  Occident  alis),  Choke  Cherry 
( Prunus  Gapuli  ?),  small  tree  10  to  15  feet  high;  Madrona,  small  and  un 
common ; Philadelphus  serpyllifolius , Fendlera  rupicola , Sumachs  (Uhus 
micropliylla  and  trilobata ),  Wild  Mulberry,  and  several  suflruticose  spe- 
cies of  Groton.  The  Leguminous  shrubs  Acacia  Greggii  and  Mimosa 
biunci/era  are  also  prominent. 

The  Desert  Willow  (Ghilopsis  saligna)  grows  on  the  parade-ground. 

Of  the  lignescent  or  herbaceous  plants  at  and  about  Fort  Davis  the 
following  are  the  most  conspicuous : 

Acacia  filicina. 

Bouvardia  hirtella. 

Tecoma  stans. 

Nolina  erumpens. 

Lithospermum  multiflorum  and  Gobrense. 

Gucurbita  perennis. 

Apodanthera  undulata. 

Eoustonia  angustifolia. 

Pentstemon  barbatus , Fendleri , glaber  (var.  cyananthus). 

Gastilleia  integra  and  lanata. 

Mimulus  Jamesii , var.  Texensis. 

CEnothera  speciosa , triloba , tubicola , primiveris1  pinnatifida. 

Gaura  sinuata  and  macrocarpa. 

Mentzelia  Wrightii. 

Asclepias  tuber osa,  verticillata , longicornu , Jamesii , nummularia , 
perennis. 

Philibertia  linearis. 

Gonolobus  reticulatus  and  productus. 

Oxalis  Wrightii. 

Boerhaavia  scandens  and  Grahami. 

Phlox  nana. 

Phacelia  glandulosa. 

Astragalus  Nuttallianus  and  mollissismus. 

Balea  rubescens , aurea,  pogonathera. 

Pliaseolus  macropoides. 

Gologania  longifolia. 

Linum  multicaule  and  perenne. 

Verbena  bipinnatifida  and  ciliata . 

Thamnosma  Texanum. 


492  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

FROM  SIERRA  BLANCA  TO  THE  CHENATE  MOUNTAINS. 

Near  the  junction  of  the  Texas  Pacific  with  the  Southern  Pacific 
Bailroads,  is  Sierra  Blanca,  so  called  from  its  whitish,  barren  aspect. 
It  bears  no  other  arborescent  growth  than  a bushy  form  of  Gray  Oak 
and  scrub  Cedar.  The  Quitman  Mountains,  to  the  southwest,  show 
dark  fringes  of  the  same  small  timber  among  their  craggy  outlines. 

Eagle  Mountain  rises  in  successive  grassy  inclines  to  its  conical  sum- 
mit, about  2,000  feet  above  the  plain.  It  contains  a considerable  growth 
of  Gray  Oak  and  Bed  Cedar,  but  of  too  small  size  to  make  serviceable 
lumber.  The  best  of  the  Oak,  in  canons  at  the  base,  have  a straight 
trunk  12  to  15  feet  high  and  1 foot  in  diameter.  The*Cedar  is  of  two 
species : Juniperus  occidentalis  on  foot-hills,  and  higher  up,  J.  pachyphlcea, 
already  noticed  as  the  prevalent  Juniper  of  the  Guadalupe  and  Limpio 
Mountains,  but  here  much  smaller.  Choke-Cherry  trees  ( Prunus  Ca- 
puli°$)  of  good  size  were  seen  in  a basin  between  foot-hills,  and,  close  by, 
a few  specimens  of  Berberis  Fremonti , an  elegant  shrub  10  to  12  feet 
high.  Cercocarpus  parvifolius,  var.  paucidentatus , and  the  obnoxious 
Adolphia  infesta  are  common  on  foot-hills.  In  the  shade  of  rocks,  near 
the  summit,  Heuchera  rubescens  grows  abundantly.  Lower  down  are 
tufts  of  a large  form  of  Artemisia  frigida , contrasting  with  the  showy 
panicles  of  Gilia  aggregata. 

Eagle  Spring,  at  the  northern  base  of  the  mountain,  is  a shallow  hole 
in  a bare,  gravelly  bank.  Between  it  and  Quitman  Canon,  along  the 
foot-hills,  are  large  groves  of  Palmo  ( Yucca  baccata , var.  australis)  15 
to  30  feet  high. 

Continuous  with  Eagle  Mountain  and  running  southeastward  are 
several  minor  ranges,  viz.,  Van  Horn,  Yieja,  and  Capote  Mountains, 
which  contain,  in  canons,  a small  amount  of  timber  consisting  of  the 
usual  Gray  Oak  and  Bed  Cedar,  to  which  is  added  Quercus  Emoryi , here 
of  medium  size.  These  mountains  are  precipitous  on  the  river  side 
but  slope  gradually  to  the  north  and  east,  merging  in  the  vast  prairie 
district  extending  thence  to  Fort  llavis. 

CHENATE  MOUNTAINS. 

These  mountains,  only  second  in  altitude  to  the  Guadalupe,  are 
somewhat  parallel  with,  and  about  20  miles  from,  the  Bio  Grande. 

There  is  no  Pine  on  the  two  lower  peaks  nor  on  the  summit  or  dome, 
but  thin  clumps  of  Nut  Pine  are  found  on  the  northern  face  of  the  latter. 
The  timber  of  these  mountains  consists  of  Bed  Cedar,  seldom  of  useful 
size,  and  Gray  Oak,  short  stemmed  and  round  headed,  rarely  a foot  in 
diameter.  Groves  of  this  Oak  fill  ravines  and  creep  up  the  mountain 
sides  in  dark,  sinuous  lines.  The  large  timber  in  Cibolo  Canon  has 
already  been  described. 

Of  the  shrubbery  should  be  noted: 

Prosopis  juliflora. 

Acacia  constricta  and  Grcggii. 


[1885.  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  493 


Mimosa  Lindheimeri,  borealis , biuncifera. 

Dalea  formosa. 

Coldenia  Greggii  and  canescens. 

Celtis  pallida. 

Microrliamnus  ericoides . 

Lippia  Wrightii,  lycioides , graveolens. 

Salvia  Greggii. 

Lonicera  dumosa. 

Anisacanthus  Thurberi. 

Leucophyllum  Texanum  and  minus. 

Berberis  trifoliata. 

Buddie ia  marrubiifolia. 

Mortonia  scabrella. 

Dicrourus  dijfusus. 

Krameria  canescens,  parvifolia , and  var.  ramossissima. 

Flourensia  cernua. 

Nolina  Texana , Yucca  baccata  and  Sotol  are  common.  Lechuguilla, 
a form  with  low,  slender  stems  and  geminate  flowers,  besets  the  hill- 
sides ; higher  up  is  the  large  Maguey  ( Agave  Wislizeni)  already  noticed 
in  the  Guadalupe  and  Limpio  Mountains,  here  with  stout  stalks  15  to 
18  feet  high. 

Of  the  flowering  herbs  the  most  characteristic  are : 

Aquilegia  chrysantha. 

Mirabilis  Wrightii. 

Boerhaavia  paniculata  and  erecta. 

Nicotiana  trigonophylla. 

Linum  rigidum  and  rupestre. 

Menodora  scabra , pubens , longiflora. 

Abutilon  Wrightii  and  crispum. 

Anoda  crista, la. 

Pavonia  Wrightii. 

( Enothera  pinnatifida , tubicola , Greggii. 

Gaura  coccinea  and  sinuata. 

Phacelia  congesta  and  integrifolia. 

Dalea  frgdescens,  Wrightii , lachnostachys , aurea , mollis , rubescens. 
Hosachia  puberula. 

Indigofer  a Lindheimeriana. 

Desmanthus  velutinus. 

Bhynchosia  Texana. 

Galium  Wrightii. 

JEriogonum  Abertianum , annuum , rotundifolium , Havardi. 
Thamnosma  Texanum. 

BOFECILLOS  MOUNTAINS. 

About  15  miles  below  Presidio  del  Norte,  begins  the  high,  grassy  pla- 
teau of  the  Bofecillos,  drained,  as  already  seen,  by  Ternero  and  Grape- 


494  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1385. 


vine  Creeks.  Into  these,  and  the  Rio  Grande,  empty  many  canons  and 
ravines  containing  more  or  less  Hackberry,  Willow,  Nogal  ( Juglans  ru - 
pestris ),  Buckeye  ( TJngnadia  speciosa), Sumac  (Rhus  copallina  and  virens ), 
and  Mulberry  (Morus  microphylla );  sometimes,  Cottonwood  and  Texas 
Green  Ash,  shading  springs.  The  uplands  bear  scattered  clumps  of  Ce- 
dar and  Gray  Oak.  These  general  remarks  apply  to  the  range  of  smooth, 
grassy  bluffs  extending  to  Los  Alamos  de  Cesario  Creek  ; thence  to 
Agua  Fria,  the  country  is  more  rocky  and  barren. 

CHISOS  MOUNTAINS. 

The  Great  Bend  of  the  Rio  Grande,  extending  from  the  Tarlinga  on 
the  west,  to  the  Maravillas  on  the  east,  is,  with  the  exception  of  parts 
of  the  Staked  Plains,  the  most  sterile  and  unattractive  region  of  West 
Texas.  The  Rossillo  Mountains  are  the  best  part  of  it  and  the  only  one 
where  the  grazing  of  large  herds  is  at  all  possible.  They  are  covered  from 
base  to  summit  with  fine  grass  in  ordinary  seasons,  and  have  four  or 
five  permanent  springs,  two  or  three  of  which  are  shaded  with  Cotton- 
wood. 

The  Chisos  Mountains  are  very  imposing  from  their  height  and  bulk. 
They  contain  a fair  amount  of  small  timber  and  their  valleys  and  slopes 
are  lined  with  good  grass,  but,  owing  apparently  to  their  geological  for- 
mation, are  so  destitute  of  permanent  water  as  to  preclude  th£ir  settle- 
ment by  stockmen.  The  broad  plains  surrounding  them  are  barren  and 
dreary  in  the  extreme. 

The  only  Pine  on  the  Chisos  is  the  Nut  Pine  ( Pinus  edulis ) which 
covers  the  summits  and  many  of  the  upper  slopes;  it  is  often  a foot 
in  diameter  and  40  feet  high.  With  it  are  two  species  of  Cedar,  shiubs 
or  small  trees,  Juniperus  occidentals  and  J.  flaccida , the  latter  not  be- 
fore observed  north  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

In  valleys,  the  Texas  Red  Oak  (Quercus  rubra,  var.  Texana ),  a medium 
tree,  is  the  prevalent  kind.  Gray  Oak  (Q.  grisea ),  of  small  size,  is  com- 
mon on  foot-hills.  Quercus  Emoryi , of  medium  size,  occupies  almost  ex- 
clusively several  of  the  canons.  More  rare  is  Q.  Durandii. 

Other  trees  seen  in  high  canons,  but  uncommon,  arej  a Maple  (Acer 
grandidentatum ),  also  growing  in  the  Guadalupe  and  Organ  Mountains ; a 
Cherry-tree  ( Prunus  Capuli ),  both  of  medium  size;  and  an  Ash  (Fraxinus 
cuspidata)  somewhat  smaller.  # 

Of  shrubs  the  following  are  sparingly  found: 

Cercis  reniformis. 

Sophora  secundiflora. 

Arbutus  Xalapensis. 

Sambucus  Canadensis. 

Rhamnus  serrulata  (new  to  the  United  States). 

Spiraea  discolor. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  495 


More  common  and  characteristic  are  the  following : 

On  slopes : 

Prosopis  juliflora. 

Zizyphus  obtusifolius. 

Cercocarpus  parvifolius. 

Rhus  virens , microphylla , trilobata. 

Forestiera  angusti folia. 

Lippia  Wrightii. 

Bouvardia  hirtella. 

Houstonia  fasciculata. 

Balea  formosa . 

Calliandra  conferta. 

Acacia  Rcemeriana , Greggii , constricta , filicina. 

Porliera  angustifolia . 

Bernardia  myriccefolia. 

Salvia  chamcedryoides  and  Regia  (new  to  the  United  States). 
Philadelphus  microphyllus. 

Berberis  Fremontii. 

In  valleys : 

Garrya  ovata. 

Rhamnus  Purshiana. 

Kceberlinia  spinosa. 

Prunus  minutiflora. 

Morus  microphylla. 

Biospy  r os  Tex  ana. 

Condalia  Mexicana  and  spathulata. 

Mimosa  biuncifera. 

Ungnadia  speciosa. 

Sapindus  marginatus. 

Abundant  are  Lechuguilla,  Maguey,  and  Sotol.  The  former  (Agave 
heteracantha)  infests  the  foot-hills,  and,  in  places,  extends  up  high 
slopes  where  it  mingles  with  the  latter  ( Basylirion  Texanum).  The 
Maguey  (Agave  Wislizeni ),  already  noticed  in  other  mountains,  thrives 
in  high  altitudes,  even  on  the  very  summit.  Its  stem  is  from  3 to  5 
inches  in  thickness,  13  to  18  feet  high,  and  bears  from  eight  to  sixteen 
panicles. 

To  these  plants  should  be  added  the  usual  Yucca  baccata  and  angusti- 
folia , Nolina  erumpens  and  Texana , and  the  bushy  Composites:  Hymena- 
therum  acerosum , Zexmenia  brevifolia , Trixis  angustijolia. 

Of  the  Cactacae  the  most  prominent  representative  is  the  noted  Straw- 
berry Cactus  (Cereus  stramineus ),  with  large,  luscious  fruit. 

Of  the  many  lignescent  or  herbaceous  plants  which  characterize  these 
mountains,  the  following  are  most  conspicuous: 

Carlowrightia  linear  if olia,  common  in  arroyos. 

Pentstemon  barba,tus , Eatoni , Havardi. 


496  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

Castilleia  Integra. 

Seymeria  scabra. 

Stachys  Bigelomi , shade  of  rock  near  summit. 

Poliomintha  mollis. 

Cedronella  micrantha  and  pallida  (var.  parviflora). 

Silene  laciniata  var.  Greggii , upper  slopes. 

Aquilegia  longissima  (new  to  the  United  States),  upper  canons. 
Desmanthus  velutinus. 

Hosackia  puberula. 

Dalea  frutescens. 

Oxybaphus  aggregatus , upper  shady  slopes. 

Tradescantia  leiandra , shade  of  rock. 

Talinum  parviflorum , shade  of  rock. 

Sedum  Liebmanniannm  (new  10  the  United  States),  shade  of  rock. 
Cotyledon  sirictiflora , sides  of  rocky  canons. 

Hibiscus  Coulteri , common  on  gravelly  foot-hills. 

Heuchera  rubescens,  upper  shady  slopes. 

Spirantlies  cinnabarina  (new  to  the  United  States),  only  one  speci- 
men seen  on  rocky  foot-hill. 

JEvolvulus  alsinoides. 

Asclepias  perennis , var.  parvula. 

Gilia  aggregata  and  incisa. 

Phacelia  congest  a and  integrifolia.  ' 

Linum  perenne,  Greggii , multicaule. 

Eriogonum  tenellum  on  hills,  and  Wrightii  in  canons. 

Thelypodium  linear  [folium. 

Galium  microphyllum. 

Grasses : 

Stipa  tenuissima. 

Lycurus  pb  leoides. 

Melica  mutica , var.  glabra. 

Bromus  ciliatus , var.  minor. 

Stipa  fimbriata. 

Cathesteclium  erectum. 

Muhlenbergia  distichophylla. 

In  arroyos,  at  the  northern  base  of  the  mountains,  the  handsome 
Anisacanthus  pumilus  is  common,  and  a new  species,  Hama  Havardi , 
(Gray),  stout  and  erect,  was  collected. 

SALT  LAKES  BASIK. 

This  barren  and  desolate  tract  of  alkali  land  begins  at  the  western 
base  of  the  Guadalupe  Mountains,  above  Crow  Spring,  and  extends 
in  a south-southeast  direction  to  Rattlesnake  Spring,  having  Sierras 
Prieta  and  Diablo  to  the  west,  and  to  the  east  the  Guadalupe  Mount- 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  497 


Vol.  VIII,  No.  32.  Washington,  1>.  C.  Sept.  28,  1885. 


uins  and  Sierra  Pesuno  de  Caballo.  It  may  be  described  as  a sandy 
basin,  about  50  miles  long  and  from  15  to  20  miles  wide,  through  the 
center  of  which  stretches  a chain  of  salt  lakes,  some  not  larger  than 
ponds,  others  several  miles  long.  The  water  is  clear  but  quite  brackish, 
and  seldom  drinkable  even  for  animals.  In  a few  places,  however,  near 
the  edge  of  some  of  the  lakes,  springs  are  found  with  good  water.  Large 
deposits  of  chloride  of  sodium  occur  in  places.  Between  Grow  Spring 
and  Guadalupe  Peak,  is  a range  of  white  sand-hills  whose  shifting, 
glistening  surface  is  delicately  undulated  by  the  wind. 

The  smooth,  broad  beach  of  the  lakes,  more  or  less  iucrusted  with 
alkali,  is  absolutely  bare.  Here  and  there,  low  sand  hillocks  are  cov- 
ered with  iSpirostachys  occidentalism  Larrea  Mexicana , and  Frankenia 
Jamesii . Along  the  edge  of  the  basin,  the  broken,  gravelly  ridges  bear 
a fair  amount  of  Grama,  and  afford  refuge  to  the  narrow-leaved  Yucca, 
Bear-Grass,  and  Maguey  ( Agave  Wislizeni). 

Crow  Spring,  an  appropriate  name,  suggestive  of  the  only  bird  inhab- 
iting this  region,  lies  near  the  northern  extremity  of  the  basin,  on  the 
road  to  El  Paso.  The  only  ligneous  vegetation  visible  here  is  a thicket 
of  Forestiera  Feo- Mexicana.  The  water  is  brackish  and  the  grass  salt, 
the  latter  consisting  mostly  of  Sporobolus  airoides  and  Wrightii. 


PART  II. 

ECONOMIC  NOTES  ON  THE  TEXANO-MEXICAN  FLORA. 

The  plants  herein  noticed  are  grouped  together  in  their  natural 
botanical  orders  and  genera,  while  the  orders  succeed  one  another  some- 
what as  convenience  and  usefulness  suggested. 

LEGUMINOSiE. 

Prosopis  juliflora,  DC.  (AlgaroUa  glandulosa).  (Mezquit.)* 

This  tree  constitutes  the  principal  growth  of  the  wooded  table-lands  and 
high  valleys  throughout  South  and  Southwestern  Texas.  The  trunk  is 
seldom  over  a foot  in  diameter  and  generally  too  crooked  and  knotty  to 
make  serviceable  lumber.  Mezquit  posts  and  rails,  much  used  in  fenc- 
ing, are  but  slightly  affected  by  exposure  to  ordinary  weather  influences, 
and  if  care  be  taken  to  strip  off  the  bark  so  that  the  eggs  of  the  Mez- 

* The  correct  spelling  of  this  Mexican  name  is  Mczquite,  with  the  accent  on  the 
penultimate.  North  of  the  Rio  Grande  the  final  eis  generally  omitted,  but  the  accent 
should  remain  the  same  and  the  word  be  pronounced  as  if  written  1 Mezkeet*. 

For  fuller  details  see  American  Naturalist  for  May,  1884. 

Proc.  Nat.  Mus.  85 32 


498  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

quit  larva,  a destructive  borer,  may  not  be  laid  in  it,  they  will  easily 
last  a century. 

Mezquit  makes  excellent  hedges;  as  it  grows  readily,  a vigorous  shrub, 
on  high  plains  where  no  other  large  spinose  shrub  will  thrive,  its  value 
in  this  respect  can  hardly  be  overestimated.  Seedlings  are  easily  raised, 
and  if  transplanted  in  prepared  ground  wherever  needed,  during  the 
rainy  season,  they  should,  in  3 or  4 years,  develop  into  strong  shoots 
which  by  proper  pruning  and  trimming  will  form  impenetrable  hedges. 

Wood  very  hard,  heavy,  fine-grained,  taking  a beautiful  polish;  it 
is  also  richly  colored,  its  several  zones  varying  from  purple  in  the  center 
to  red  and  yellow  towards  the  circumference.  These  qualities  render 
it  valuable  for  cabinet-work ; unfortunately  it  too  often  happens  that 
the  zones  of  the  heart-wood  are  cracked  so  that  it  is  somewhat  difficult 
to  get  flawless  boards. 

The  heart- wood,  stem  and  root,  contains  tannin  in  the  proportion  of 
6 to  7 per  cent.  The  bark  and  external  white  wood  contain  less  than 
1 per  cent,  and  the  leaves  are  entirely  destitute  of  it.  It  yet  remains 
to  be  ascertained,  by  practical  test,  whether  the  heart- wood  can  be  used 
profitably  by  the  tanner.  Infusions  and  decoctions  of  it  will  be  found 
useful  in  the  Great  American  Desert,  in  default  of  other  medicines,  to 
purify  water,  prevent  scurvy,  or  check  dysentery. 

In  several  Texas  towns,  pavement  blocks  of  Mezquit  are  extensively 
used  and  have  been  found  to  answer  the  purpose  excellently  well. 

As  fuel,  the  wood  from  both  root  and  stem  is  unsurpassed.  It  is  the 
most  commonly  used  from  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  to  San  Diego,  Cal.,  and 
often  the  only  kind  obtainable.  According  to  Dr.  Loew,  the  charcoal 
made  from  it  is  of  the  best  quality  for  metallurgical  and  smelting  pur- 
poses. 

During  the  summer  months  the  bark  secretes  an  amber-colored  gum 
which  has  the  taste  of  gum  arabic  and,  like  it,  makes  excellent  adhesive,* 
mucilage.  Its  solution  in  water  is  slightly  acid  and  astringent ; it  is  a 
useful  and  palatable  drink  in  the  diarrhea  of  children.  The  quantity 
of  gum  secreted  by  each  tree  is  not  large  enough  to  make  it  an  impor- 
tant article  of  commerce. 

The  ripe  pod,  or  u bean,”  with  thick  and  spongy  mesocarp,  contains 
more  than  half  its  weight  of  assimilable  nutritive  principles  and  is 
therefore  a valuable  article  of  food ; the  most  important  of  these  is 
sugar,  in  the  proportion  of  25  to  30  per  cent.  Most  herbivorous  animate, 
but  especially  the  horse  and  the  mule,  are  fond  of  this  pod  and  thrive 
on  it.  In  the  field,  it  is  a welcome  though  imperfect  substitute  for 
grain. 

The  Mezquit  u bean  ” is  one  of  the  staple  foods  of  Mexicans  and  In- 
dians. They  grind  it  on  the  “rnatate”  and,  after  removing  shell  and 
seeds,  boil  the  flour  in  water.  The  infusion  of  this  flour  can  easily  be 
made  to  undergo  alcoholic  fermentation  whereby  a weak  beer  is  obtained, 
formerly  much  used  by  Comanche  and  Apache  Indians. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  499 

Prosopis  pubescens,  Benth.  (Screw  Bean;  Tornillo.) 

Low,  neat  shrub,  growing  luxuriantly  along  the  Eio  Grande  and 
many  of  its  tributaries  from  El  Paso  to  Devil’s  Eiver.  Its  straight  and 
long  stems  are  useful  for  building  huts,  and  fencing.  It  is  also  an  ef- 
fective hedge-plant  on  bottom-lands.  The  wood  is  not  near  as  hard  as 
that  of  Mezquit  but  makes  good  fuel. 

The  twisted  pod,  or  u bean,”  contains  a spongy  and  nutritious  pulp 
rich  in  sugar,  and  is  used  as  food  by  Mexicans  and  Indians.  Herbiv- 
orous animals  are  very  fond  of  it.  Its  smallness,  however,  and  the 
stony  hardness  of  the  seeds  render  it  less  valuable  than  that  of  the 
Mezquit. 

Acacia  flexicaulis,  Benth.  (Mexican  Ebony.) 

Shrub,  or  small  round-headed  tree,  with  handsome  evergreen  foliage, 
common  on  the  bluffs  of  the  Lower  Eio  Grande  and  the  Gulf  Coast. 
Its  straight  trunk  is  seldom  over  a foot  in  diameter.  Wood  heavy  and 
compact,  with  the  several  shades  of  ebony  and  taking  nearly  as  fine 
a polish,  hence  its  great  value  to  cabinet-makers.  As  fuel  it  is  even 
considered  superior  to  that  of  Mezquit.  Ebony  posts  are  reputed  the 
most  durable  of  any  made  from  Texas  woods  and  may  be  said  to  last 
forever. 

The  thick,  woody  pods,  4 to  6 inches  long,  contain  round  seeds  the 
size  of  peas,  which,  if  boiled  while  still  green,  are  quite  palatable  and 
nutritious.  When  ripe  and  dry  they  are  toasted  by  the  natives  and 
the  black  outer  skin,  or  testa,  used  as  a substitute  for  coffee. 

The  flowers,  in  cream-colored  catkins,  exhale  a very  delicate  fra- 
grance. 

Acacia  Farnesiana,  Willd.  (Huisaclie.) 

Spreading,  round-headed,  ornamental  tree,  with  evergreen  (in  mild 
winters)  and  beautiful  foliage ; common  at  San  Antonio  and  thence  to 
the  Lower  Eio  Grande  and  the  Gulf  Coast.  Trunk  seldom  over  a foot 
in  diameter.  The  rose-colored  wood  is  hard  and  compact,  excellent  for 
cabinet-work;  probably  contains  tannin;  makes  very  good  fuel.  Huis- 
ache  posts  rank  next  to  those  of  Mezquit  in  durability. 

The  yellow,  capitate  flowers,  which  appear  in  great  profusion  during 
February  and  March,  are  very  fragrant  and  would  probably  yield  a rich 
essential  oil. 

A decoction  of  the  pod  contains  tannin,  and  is  used  by  Mexicans  who 
mix  it  with  an  iron  salt  to  make  writing  ink. 

Acacia  Greggii,  Gray. 

Mere  straggling  shrub  above  Laredo,  becoming  a small,  slender  tree 
35  feet  high,  with  stem  8 to  10  inches  thick,  on  the  Lower  Eio  Grande 
where  it  is  called  Una  de  Gato.  Forms  most  intricate  spinose  thickets 
on  many  gravelly  bluffs  where  it  would  make  excellent  hedges.  Wood 
exceedingly  hard,  close-grained  and  heavy. 


500  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 
Acacia  Wrightii,  Bentli. 

Often  found  west  and  south  of  San  Antonio  as  a small,  round  tree, 
with  stem  6 to  8 inches  thick.  Wood  very  hard. 

Acacia  Rcemeriana,  Schleclit. 

Stout  shrub,  common  in  Western  Texas,  with  foliage  much  like  that 
of  the  preceding.  Good  hedge-plant. 

Acacia  Berlandieri,  Bentli.,  and  A.  amentacea,  DC. 

The  former  covering  the  arid  bluffs  of  the  Lower  Rio  Grande,  the 
latter  extending  farther  north  and  west,  being  common  at  San  Antonio; 
both  excellent  hedge- shrubs,  especially  the  amentacea , with  its  strong, 
stiff,  prickly  branches;  unfortunately  its  seeds  seldom  develop  and 
ripen ; the  A.  Berlandieri , on  the  contrary,  is  very  fructiferous. 

Mimosa  biuncifera,  Bentli.,  and  M.  borealis,  Gray.  (Una  de  Gato.) 

Common  bushes  west  of  the  Pecos,  on  dry  gravelly  soil,  noted  for  the 
abundance  and  stoutness  of  their  prickles;  possible  hedge-plants. 

Fithecolobium  brevifolium,  Bentli.  (Huajillo.) 

Shrub  on  the  Lower  Rio  Grande,  with  permanent  foliage  readily  eaten 
by  sheep  and  goats  in  winter. 

Sesbania  Cavanillesii,  Watson. 

Very  graceful  shrub  or  small  tree  on  the  Lower  Rio  Grande,  with 
showy  racemes  of  bright  yellow  flowers  in  August,  and  winged  legume. 
Seeds  used  as  a substitute  for  coffee. 

Sophora  secundiflora,  Lag.  (Frijolillo;  Coral  Bean.) 

Stout  ornamental  shrub,  with  deep  green  foliage,  common  from  the 
Gulf  Coast  to  the  Pecos ; thence  smaller  and  less  frequent,  but  found  in 
mountain  canons  as  far  west  as  El  Paso.  Only  a shrub  on  the  Lower 
Rio  Grande,  but  described  by  Lindheimer  as  a small  tree,  30  feet  high,; 
on  the  shores  of  Matagorda  Bay.  The  showy  bunches  of  violet  flowers- 
give  off  a strong,  nauseating  and  very  offensive  smell.  Wood  yellow, 
hard  and  heavy,  dyeing  yellow. 

The  pod  holds  3 or  4 round,  red  beans,  the  size  of  small  marbles, 
and  very  poisonous.  They  contain  an  alkaloid,  sophoria,  isolated 
by  Dr.  H.  C.  Wood  in  1877.  It  is  a whitish,  amorphous  substance,  with 
strong  narcotic  properties  and  capable  of  producing  convulsions,  tem- 
porary loss  of  voluntary  movement  aud  distressing  vomiting.  Accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Rothrock  (who  quotes  Mr.  Bellanger,  of  Texas,  as  his  inform- 
ant) “The  Indians  near  San  Antonio  used  this  bean  as  an  intoxicant, 
half  a bean  producing  delirious  exhilaration  followed  by  a sleep  which 
lasts  2 or  3 days,  and  it  is  asserted  that  a whole  bean  would  kill  a man.” 

Sophora  affinis,  T.  & G. 

Small  ornamental  tree,  10  to  15  feet  high,  with  stem  4 to  8 inches  in 
diameter.  At  San  Antonio  and  sparingly  in  Southern  and  Eastern 
Texas.  Wood  yellow  and  very  heavy. 


1835.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  501 
Parkinsonia  aculeata,  L.  (Retama.) 

San  Antonio,  Lower  Eio  Grande,  Gulf  Coast  and  Southeastern  Texas. 
Very  handsome  tree,  small  or  medium-sized,  often  cultivated  for  orna- 
ment. “ According  to  Mr.  Schott,  it  is  valued  by  the  Mexican  Indians 
as  a febrifuge  and  sudorific,  and  also  as  a remedy  in  epilepsy.”  Mexican 
women  use  an  infusion  of  the  leaves  to  induce  abortion.  Wood  hard, 
making  good  fuel, 

Parkinsonia  Texana,  Watson. 

Bluffs  of  the  Lower  Eio  Grande.  Small  spinose  shrub,  with  golden 
blossoms,  deserving  introduction  as  one  of  the  prettiest  of  ornamental 
plants.  Burned  in  the  green  state,  the  branches  yield  ashes  rich  in 
alkali,  and  used  by  Mexicans  to  make  soap. 

Phaseolus  retusus,  Benth.  (Prairie  Bean.) 

Common  on  prairies  west  of  the  Pecos,  its  creeping  stems  often  15  to 
20  feet  long.  The  seeds  (3  to  5 in  each  pod)  are  about  the  size  of  peas ; 
when  still  green  and  well  cooked  they  make  an  acceptable  dish  in  the 
field.  When  ripe  they  are  too  tough  for  use. 

Psoralea  esculenta,  Pursli.  (Pomme  Blanche.) 

Small  herb,  very  common  on  the  prairies  of  the  Northwest,  but  very 
sparingly  found  in  Western  Texas.  Its  esculent  tuberous  roots  are 
nutritive,  wholesome  and  pleasant  to  the  taste. 

Hoffmanseggia  stricta,  Benth.  (Camote  del  Raton.) 

| Very  pretty  herb  found  in  all  valleys,  with  an  esculent  tuberous  root- 
istock. 

peteria  scoparia,  Gray.  (Camote  del  Monte.) 

I Stout,  spiny,  suffruticose  herb,  found  sparingly  in  the  foot-hills  of  the 
mountains  west  of  the  Pecos,  also  with  a small,  edible,  tuberous  root- 
stock. 

Astragalus  mollissimus,  Torr. 

Probably  jiot  specifically  distinct  from  A.  Bigelovii , Gray.  The  best 
known  “loco”  plant  of  Western  Texas.  Eather  common  on  high  prai- 
ries and  mesas  west  of  the  Pecos,  specially  abundant  about  Pena  Colo- 
rado and  Fort  Davis.  Perennial  plant,  6 to  10  inches  high,  with  pin- 
nate leaves  quite  silky,  and  rather  conspicuous  racemes  of  purple 
flowers  in  the  early  summer. 

Animals,  even  goats,  avoid  this  plant  which  has  a very  nauseous 
!$mell  (much  intensified  by  drying),  and  only  eat  it  through  inadver- 
I tence  or  necessity.  Horses  and  cattle  are  similarly  affected  by  it.  They 
lose  their  appetite,  become  stupid,  with  spells  of  vicious  exhilara- 
tion, grow  thin,  have  tremors  of  the  muscles,  lose  power  to  co-ordinate 
-movements  and  estimate  distances  so  that  locomotion  is  rendered 
awkward  and  dangerous  and  finally  becomes  impossible.  Horses  may 


502  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

even  have  blind-staggers.  It  is  said  that  animals  having  once  felt  the 
effects  of  this  weed  are  very  likely  to  return  to  it  until  it  kills  them. 

Oxytropis  Lamberti,  Pursh. 

Herb,  in  habit  bearing  some  resemblance  to  the  preceding,  only  found 
in  Northern  Texas  and  nowhere  common  in  the  State.  It  is  a loco  plant 
of  bad  repute  which,  however,  it  may  not  deserve. 

SALIC  ACE2E. 

Populus  monilifera,  Ait.  and  P.  Fremonti,  Watson.  (Cottonwood;  the  Alamo  of 

the  Mexicans.) 

Species  closely  allied  and  hard  to  distinguish  ; the  latter  not  extend- 
ing east  of  the  Pecos.  Abundant  on  the  Rio  Grande,  from  El  Paso  to 
Presidio  del  Norte ; common  on  the  San  Antonio  and  Medina  Rivers, 
scant  on  the  Nueces  ; also  found  on  the  headwaters  of  the  many  forks 
of  the  Colorado,  Brazos  and  Red  River  where  they  indent  the  high 
plateau  of  the  Staked  Plains,  and  along  water-courses  at  the  base  of 
the  Guadalupe,  Limpio,  and  Chenate  Mountains. 

In  all  of  these  places  the  Cottonwood  reaches  a large  size,  1 to  5 feet 
in  diameter,  and  is  a valuable  timber  and  lumber  tree.  If  protected 
from  rain  and  sun  the  wood  is  very  durable  ; it  possesses  remarkable 
immunity  from  boring  larvae.  I have  seen  beams  of  it  quite  sound  in 
churches  more  than  a century  old.  Boards,  unless  carefully  dried,  are 
liable  to  warp  and  crack  5 this  is  prevented  by  boiling  in  lye.  Cotton- 
wood  makes  poor  fuel. 

Salix  nigra,  Marsh.  (Black  Willow  ; Sauz  of  the  Mexicans,) 

Under  several  forms,  the  commonest  species  of  Willow ; grows  on  most 
streams  as  a small  or  medium-sized  tree.  On  the  Lower  Rio  Grande, 
where  it  is  sometimes  absurdly  called  Cottonwood,  it  attains  a large  ; 
size,  1 to  3 feet  in  diameter,  and  becomes  an  important  timber  tree. 

Salix  longifolia,  Muhl.  (Long-leafed  Willow.) 

Like  the  preceding,  very  common  along  water-courses,  varying  much 
in  size  from  a small  shrub  along  the  Middle  Pecos  to  a medium-sized  tree 
in  the  Chenate  Mountains. 

Salix  amygdaloides,  Anders.  ? 

Good-sized  tree,  common  on  the  Rio  Grande  from  El  Paso  to  old  Fort 
Quitman. 

The  wood  of  these  willows  is  tolerably  hard  and  tough,  but  not  very 
durable,  and  only  makes  passable  fuel.  The  Mexicans  scrape  off  the 
leaves,  crush  and  make  an  infusion  of  them  which  is  used  internally 
and  externally  in  yellow  fever  and  other  fevers  of  malarial  origin.  If 
there  be  any  efficacy  in  the  leaves  thus  used  it  seems  as  though  there 
ought  to  be  more  in  the  bark. 

The  leaves  of  the  Texas  Fresno  ( Fraxinus  viridis , var.  Berlandieriana) 
are  also  used  for  the  same  purpose. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  503 


CONIFERiE. 

Pine  timber  is  restricted  to  the  Guadalupe,  Limpio,  Chisos,  and  Organ 
Mountains.  No  attempt  has  as  yet  been  made  to  utilize  it  in  the  some- 
what inaccessible  Guadalupe  and  Chisos  Mountains,  while  saw-mills 
have  been  in  operation  at  several  “ pineries”  in  the  Limpio  Mountains. 

Finus  ponderosa,  Dougl.  (Yellow  Pine.) 

The  prevalent  and  most  valuable  Pine  of  the  Guadalupe  and  Limpio 
Mountains;  trunk  1 to  2 feet  in  diameter;  hard,  heavy,  durable  wood, 
making  excellent  lumber  and  very  good  fuel. 

Pinus  flexilis,  James.  (White  Pine.) 

In  the  Guadalupe  and  Limpio  Mountains;  a smaller  tree  than  the 
preceding,  and  also  inferior  to  it  in  the  quality  of  its  wood. 

Pinus  edulis,  Engelm.  (Pinon;  Nut  Pine.) 

Common  in  the  Guadalupe,  Limpio,  Organ,  and  Chisos  Mountains ; 
also  found  on  the  higher  ridges  and  bluffs  of  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Rio 
Grande  as  far  north  as  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  on  the  forks  of 
the  Nueces  River  and  along  the  edges  of  the  high  jffateau  of  the  Staked 
Plains.  In  the  Chisos  Mountains,  which  it  occupies  exclusively,  it  be- 
comes a tree  with  straight  trunk  1 foot  in  diameter  and  could  be  sawn 
into  useful  lumber  of  very  fair  quality.  It  reaches  about  the  same  pro- 
portions in  the  Limpio  and  Organ  Mountains.  Elsewhere  it  is  seldom 
large  enough  for  anything  but  fuel  and  fence  rails. 

The  Pinon  bears  small  globose-ovate  cones  containing  a few  roundish, 
wingless  seeds  ; these  consist  of  a thin,  fragile  shell  inclosing  an  edible 
kernel  which  is  eaten  raw  or  roasted. 

Pseudotsuga  (Abies)  Douglasii,  Carri&re.  (Douglas’  Spruce.) 

On  the  Guadalupe  Mountains,  the  only  Pir  in  Western  Texas;  a large 
tree,  next  in  prevalence,  size  and  quality  to  the  Yellow  Pine  in  those 
mountains. 

Juniperus  occidentalis,  Hook.  (Western  Red  Cedar.) 

Very  common  shrub  or  stunted  tree  on  the  mountains,  foot-hills, 
high  ridges,  and  many  of  the  bluffs  of  Western  and  Southern  Texas  ; 
only  fit  for  fencing  and  fuel.  The  variety  conjungens , common  on  the 
Nueces  and  north  of  San  Antonio,  is  quite  rare  west  of  the  Pecos. 

Juniperus  pachyphloea,  Torr.  (Thick-bark  Juniper.) 

Found  in  moderate  abundance  in  the  Guadalupe,  Limpio,  and  Eagle 
Mountains.  A larger  tree  than  the  preceding;  trunk,  1 to  2 or  more 
feet  in  diameter,  but  seldom  more  than  10  feet  high.  It  is  probably 
this  tree  which  near  Santa  F6,  according  to  Dr.  Loew,  furnishes,  by 
tapping  the  lower  part  of  the  trunk,  a yellow,  aromatic,  transparent 
balsam  used  in  various  urinary  disorders.  Wood  reddish,  close-grained, 


504  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1835. 


very  hard  and  durable.  Berries  greenish,  or  at  last  becoming  purplish, 
globose,  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  with  sweetish  and  palatable  pulp. 

Juniperus  flaccida,  Schlecht. 

Small  tree,  only  seen  in  the  Ohisos  Mountains. 

Taxodium  distichum,  Richard.  (Bald  Cypress;  the  Sabino  of  the  Mexicans.) 

Large,  valuable  tree,  growing  sparingly  on  the  San  Antonio  Biver 
and  some  few  other  streams  between  it  and  Devil’s  Biver ; also  at  scat- 
tered points  on  the  Lower  Bio  Grande. 

Ephedra  antisyphilitica,  C.  A.  Meyer,  and  E.  trifurca,  Torr.  (Canatilla ; Tepo- 
pote.) 

Shrubs,  2 to  4 feet  high,  with  long,  slender,  greenisfi  branches,  the 
leaves  reduced  to  short  bracts  which  are  opposite  in  the  first,  and  in 
threes  in  the  second  species.  They  are  exactly  alike  in  habit  and  mode 
of  growth,  and  may  be  only  forms  of  the  same  species.  These  shrubs 
are  hardly  ever  absent  from  the  gravelly  mesas  and  bluffs  of  Western 
and  Southern  Texas.  They  are  popular  remedies  among  Mexicans  and 
frontiersmen  in  the  treatment  of  syphilis  and  gonorrhoea,  especially  the 
latter.  The  decoction  or  infusion  of  the  stems  has  an  acid  reaction  and 
an  astringent  taste  resembling  that  of  tannin.  It  is  used  as  an  injec- 
tion and  internally;  some  caution  should  be  observed  as  it  has  been 
known  to  cause  strangury.  Dr.  Bothrock  [Botany  West  of  the  100th 
Meridian],  summing  up  Dr.  Loew’s  analysis  of  E.  antisypMlitica , says: 

“ The  filtrate  of  the  aqueous  solution  proved  the  presence  of  tannin 
and  tartaric  acid.  Pectin  was  also  shown  to  be  in  the  filtrate  by  the 
jelly-like  precipitate  produced  by  the  addition  of  alcohol.  The  tannin 
belongs  to  the  glucosid  group,  furnishing  sugar  on  treatment  with  acids 
and  various  other  compounds,  and,  upon  dry  distillation,  pyrogallic  and 
carbonic  acids.  This  tannin  splits  up  into  sugar  and  a red  amorphous 
powder.  The  powder,  Dr.  Loew  considers  quite  a distinct  body  which 
he  names  ephedrin,  and  to  this  he  attributes  (probably  correctly)  the 
remedial  properties  of  the  plant.” 

CUPULIFERiE. 

Quercus  virens,  Ait.  (Live  Oak.) 

Common  along  most  water-courses  from  San  Antonio  to  Eagle  Pass 
and  Devil’s  Biver  ; hardly  extends  beyond  the  Pecos.  Tree  of  vigorous 
growth,  with  thick  but  short  trunk  ; wood  invaluable  as  timber  or  fuel. 

Quercus  grisea,  Liebrn.  (Gray  Oak.) 

The  most  abundant,  I may  say  the  characteristic,  Oak  of  Western 
Texas.  Found  west  of  the  Pecos  in  all  mountain  canons  and  on  most 
foot-hills,  high  ridges,  and  bluffs.  It  is  a small  tree,  seldom  more  than 
a foot  thick,  but  its  heavy,  compact,  tough  and  exceedingly  hard  wood 
could  be  used  advantageously.  The  cross-section  is  remarkable  for  the 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  505 

conspicuousness  of  its  medullary  rays,  causing,  in  polished  boards, 
beautiful  effects  of  silver- grain. 

Quercus  rubra,  var.  Texana,  Buckley.  (Texas  Red  Oak.) 

Good-sized  tree  at  San  Antonio,  smaller  westward  and  very  sparsely 
scattered  in  hilly  districts  from  San  Antonio  to  the  Limpio  Mountains. 

Quercus  Emoryi,  Torr.  (Emory’s  Oak.) 

Abundant  in  some  of  the  canons  and  along  the  southern  base  of  the 
Limpio  Mountains;  forms  the  exclusive  arboreal  growth  of  some  of  the 
canons  of  the  Chisos  Mountains.  In  the  former  habitat  it  is  a handsome 
tree,  with  tall  and  straight  stem  1 to  3 feet  in  diameter ; in  the 
Ghisos  Mountains  it  seldom  exceeds  15  inches.  Wood  hard  and  val- 
uable as  timber  and  fuel. 

Quercus  Durandii,  Buckley. 

Seen  on  the  forks  of  the  Nueces  and,  what  seems  a form  of  it,  in  the 
Chisos  Mountains.  Small  tree  of  little  importance,  good  for  fuel,  fenc- 
ing, &c. 

Quercus  Muhlenbergii,  Engelm.  (Chestnut  Oak.) 

Large,  handsome  tree  on  the  forks  of  the  Nueces,  medium-sized  in 
the  canons  of  the  Guadalupe  Mountains.  Wood  strong  and  durable. 

Quercus  stellata,  Wang.  (Post  Oak.) 

Sparse  about  San  Antonio  and  northwest  of  it;  nowhere  common.  I 
found  large  groves  of  it  in  the  hills  north  of  Fort  Condho,  apparently 
the  westernmost  extension  of  the  species.  Low,  spreading  tree,  with 
short  stem  1 to  3 feet  in  diameter ; wood  hard  and  durable,  excellent 
for  posts,  rails,  ties,  &c.,  or  as  fuel. 

Quercus  undulata,  Torr.  (Wavy  Oak). 

Very  common,  scrubby  Oak  in  foot-hills  west  of  Devil’s  River,  affect- 
ing a great  variety  of  forms.  Several  of  the  smaller  forms  (Shin  Oak) 
produce  edible  acorns  of  various  sizes,  small  in  the  Guadalupe  Mount- 
ains, very  large  in  the  Sand  Hills,  which  are  eaten  by  Mexicans,  raw 
or  baked.  They  afford  excellent  mast  to  hogs  in  the  vicinity  of  settle- 
ments. t 

Q.  grisea  and  Q.  undulata  deserve  notice  as  producers  of  tannin. 
They  almost  always  bear  nut-galls  in  large  quantity.  These  vary  in  size 
from  half  an  inch  to  an  inch  in  diameter ; they  sometimes  grow  upon 
the  smaller  twigs,  but  much  oftener  spring  from  the  under  surface  of 
leaves,  generally  from  the  midrib,  more  rarely  from  a main  lateral 
nerve,  never  from  the  parenchyma.  They  are  found  in  all  stages  of 
development,  at  first  oblong,  pointed  and  reddish,  later  becoming 
rounded  and  yellowish- white.  A section  of  those  growing  on  the  leaves 
shows  large  open  spaces  between  the  central  cyst  and  the  external 
wall;  those  found  on  twigs  are  fuller  and  heavier.  Wherever  found, 
these  nut-galls  always  plainly  show  the  presence  of  tannic  acid. 


506  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

JUG-LANDACEiE. 

Carya  oliveeformis,  Nutt.  (Pecan,  the  Nuez  of  the  border  Mexicans.) 

Fringes  the  San  Antonio,  Medina  and  Nueces  Rivers,  many  of  their 
branches,  and,  more  sparsely,  other  water-courses  as  far  as  Devil’s  River 
and  Fort  Concho,  its  western  limit.  Large  and  handsome  tree,  valuable 
alike  for  its  hard,  compact  wood  and  its  excellent  fruit  which  forms  an 
important  article  of  trade. 

No  hickory  was  seen  south  of  Austin. 

Juglans  nigra,  L.  (Black  Walnut.) 

Sparingly  found  at  San  Antonio  as  a medium-sized  tree ; does  not 
extend  westward.  This  tree  could  advantageously  be  introduced  in 
many  valleys. 

Juglans  rupestris,  Engelm.  (Canon  Nogal.) 

Small  tree,  hardly  ever  a foot  in  diameter,  very  common  in  all  the 
mountain  arroyos  of  Western  Texas. 

Wood  of  a rich  purple-brown,  very  hard,  heavy  and  compact,  not 
warping  in  drying.  Medullary  rays  very  close,  giving  a peculiarly  fine 
appearance  of  silver- grain  to  a longitudinal  section. 

URTICACEiE. 

Ulmus  Americana,  L.  (American  Elm.) 

On  the  Colorado  River  at  Austin,  and  upward  to  a point  75  miles 
below  the  crossing  of  the  Texas  Pacific  Railroad;  from  this  river  it 
ascends  the  Rio  Concho  up  to  Fort  Concho.  On  the  Texas  Pacific 
Railroad  it  only  extends  to  Elm  Creek,  a few  miles  west  of  Abilene. 

Large  tree  on  the  Middle  Colorado,  but  becoming  smaller  and  of  lit- 
tle economic  value  west  of  Austin. 

Ulmus  crassifolia,  Nutt.  (Water  Elm;  Small-leaved  Elm.) 

Much  more  common  than  the  preceding ; abounds  on  the  San  Anto- 
nio, Medina,  Nueces,  and  other  rivers  as  far  as  the  Pecos.  Middle-sized 
tree,  1 to  2 feet  in  diameter.  Wood  tough  but  not  hard,  making  infe- 
rior lumber  and  poor  fuel. 

Celtis  occidentalis,  L.  (Hackherry  ; Palo  Blanco.) 

The  most  common  tree  of  valleys  and  low  grounds  in  Southern  and 
Western  Texas.  At  San  Antonio  and  westward,  the  straight,  short  trunk 
ranges  from  6 to  24  inches  in  diameter;  on  the  Lower  Rio  Grande  it  reaches 
greater  proportions,  being  often  20  feet  long  and  2 to  3 feet  in  diameter, 
the  total  height  of  the  tree  being  50  or  more  feet.  Wood  close-grained 
and  tough,  but  not  very  durable  ; makes  poor  fuel.  The  fruit  is  a yel- 
lowish-red berry,  as  large  as  a pea,  with  sweet,  edible  pulp. 

This  species  passes  through  intermediate  forms  into  the  variety  reticu- 
lata, which  is  very  common  throughout  Western  Texas. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  507 
Celtis  pallida,  Torr.  (Granjeno.) 

Y ery  common  on  all  mesas  and  foot-hills  in  W estern  and  Southern  Texas. 
Generally  a shrub,  but  becomes  arborescent  on  the  Lower  Bio  Grande. 
Plant  of  quick  growth  in  dry  places,  stiff  and  thorny,  capable  of  .mak- 
ing excellent  hedges.  The  branches  have  a disposition  to  twist  into 
curious  shapes  and  make  very  pretty  canes.  Wood  hard,  making  good 
posts  and  excellent  fuel. 

The  orange-yellow  berry,  called  capul  * by  the  Mexicans,  ripening  in 
the  fall,  is  oval  in  shape  and  about  half  an  inch  long ; it  has  a mucil- 
aginous and  slightly  astringent,  but  not  unpleasant,  taste,  and  is  greed- 
ily eaten  by  all  domestic  fowls. 

Morus  rubra,  L.  (Red  Mulberry.) 

Common  at  San  Antonio,  where  it  may  have  been  introduced ; prob- 
ably does  not  extend  farther  west.  Small,  ornamental  tree  of  quick 
growth,  prized  for  its  beautiful  foliage  and  delicious  fruit. 

Morus  microphylla,  Buckley.  (Wild  Mulberry.) 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  with  very  variable  foliage,  common  on  Las  Moras 
Creek  and  farther  west  in  the  canons  of  the  Guadalupe,  Limpio,  and 
Chenate  Mountains.  Wood  soft  aud  sappy,  but  tough  and  resilient, 
making  very  good  bows.  Its  cambium  is  thick  and  milky,  leaving  a 
white  deposit  wherever  it  adheres  and  dries.  Fruit  round  or  oblong, 
rarely  seen,  much  smaller  than  in  the  preceding  species,  maturing  in 
May  and  very  palatable. 

Maclura  aurantiaca,  Nutt.  (Osage  Orange.) 

Spontaneous  in  Eastern  Texas ; grows  vigorously  at  San  Antonio  and 
wherever  planted  in  Western  Texas  if  near  water.  Its  value  as  a hedge 
shrub  for  valleys  and  near  water-courses  is  well  known. 

SAPINDACEiE. 

Ungnadia  speciosa,  Endl.  (Mexican  Buckeye.) 

Shrub  or  very  small  tree,  common  along  rocky  valleys  and  in  mount- 
ain arroyos  west  of  San  Antonio. 

The  3-lobed  pods  contain  3 or  more  seeds,  in  shape  and  size  much  like 
small  chestnuts.  These,  although  pleasant  to  the  taste,  are  quite  poi- 
sonous ; cooking  does  not  render  them  innocuous.  An  adult  can  eat 
one  or  two  with  impunity ; three  or  four  soon  produce  giddiness  and  a 
sensation  of  heat  and  discomfort  at  the  pit  of  the  stomach.  In  a robust 
child  four  years  old  who  came  under  my  observation,  after  eating  two 
or  three  of  these  u beans,”  the  toxic  symptoms  were  quickly  produced. 
Within  half  an  hour  he  grew  very  giddy,  staggered  up  to  his  mother, 
asked  for  water  and  then  fell.  An  emetic  of  mustard  was  promptly 
and  successfully  administered.  A few  minutes  afterward  I found  the 

* Capul  is  the  Mexican  equivalent  for  berry ; it  is  applied  to  the  fruit  of  several 
shrubs,  and  sometimes,  by  extension,  to  the  shrubs  themselves. 


508  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  T1S85. 


patient  witli  face  very  pale  but  resting  quietly,  free  from  nausea  or 
pain ; there  was  no  inclination  to  sleep,  the  pupils  were  about  normal 
and  the  respiration  natural ; the  pulse  was  very  high  and  seemed  to  be 
the  only  serious  symptom.  Entire  recovery  followed  in  a few  hours. 

.ffisculus  flava,  Ait.,  and  var.  purpurascens,  Gray.  (Sweet  Buckeye.) 

Arborescent  shrubs,  seen  on  the  Comal  near  New  Braunfels,  not  ex- 
tending south  or  west  of  that  point.  / 

Acer  grandidentatum,  Nutt.  (Small-leaved  Maple.) 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  seen  in  the  canons  of  the  Guadalupe, 
Organ  and  Chisos  Mountains,  the  only  maple  of  Western  Texas.  Wood 
hard,  close-grained,  and  probably  susceptible  of  a tine  polish. 

Negundo  aceroides,  Mcenck.  (Box-Elder;  Ask-leaved  Maple.) 

Medium-sized  tree  on  the  San  Antonio,  Medina  and  other  streams 
east  of  the  Pecos.  The  abundant  sap  of  this  tree  contains  a large  pro- 
portion of  sugar,  together  with  mucilaginous  and  demulcent  principles, 
which  make  it  a very  pleasant  beverage.  It  is  obtained  in  the  early 
spring  by  driving  a tube,  or  else  cutting  out  a pocket,  into  the  lower 
part  of  the  trunk. 

Sapindus  marginatus,  Willd.  (Soap-berry.) 

Tree  often  30  feet  or  more  high,  with  straight  stem  seldom  a foot 
thick,  common  along  creeks  throughout  Western  Texas.  As  a green 
and  thrifty  shrub,  in  a dry  and  parched  district,  it  is  often  an  indi- 
cator of  water  on  or  near  the  surface. 

Wood  sulphur-yellow,  hard,  close-grained,  resinous  and  brittle,  sus- 
ceptible of  a very  fine  polish  ; makes  excellent  fuel. 

The  whitish  berries,  the  size  of  small  marbles,  have  a translucid  pulp 
neutral  to  litmus  paper,  rich  in  mucilage  and  a detergent  principle.  A 
few  of  them  rubbed  between  the  hands  will  clean  them,  with  hardly 
any  lather,  as  well  as  soap.  From  their  neutral  reaction  they  might 
be  found  useful  in  the  washing  of  delicate  fabrics. 

RHAMNACEiES. 

Rhamnus  Carolinianus,  Walt.  (Alder-Bucktkorn.) 

Shrub  or  very  small  tree  on  the  banks  of  streams;  San  Antonio 
westward  to  the  Pecos ; nowhere  common. 

Rhamnus  Purshiana,  DC. 

Stout  shrub  in  the  Guadalupe  and  (what  seems  nearest  to  it)  in  the 
Chisos  Mountains. 

Zizyphus  obtusifolius,  Gray.  (Lote-bush;  Texas  Buckthorn.) 

Next  to  Mezquit,  the  most  widespread  and  abundant  shrub  in  Western 
and  Southern  Texas,  on  gravelly  mesas,  slopes  and  bluffs.  Of  quick 
growth  and  very  hardy,  with  diffuse  and  strongly-armed  branches,  it 
makes  excellent  hedges  in  dry  pastures.  The  large,  round,  black  ber- 
ries are  eaten  by  Mexicans  although  nearly  tasteless. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  509 


I failed  to  discover  the  Z . lycioides  which  I judge  to  be  very  rare,  if 
at  all  present,  in  Texas. 

Ccndalia  obovata,  Hook.  (Brasil ; Logwood.) 

Shrub  at  San  Antonio  and  westward,  often  with  the  preceding  and 
nearly  as  common.  Becomes  a small  tree,  20  feet  high,  on  the  Lower 
Bio  Grande  and  along  the  coast.  Wood  very  hard,  of  a brick-red  color, 
containing  a red  (some  say  purplish)  dye.  Evergreen  of  hardy  growth 
in  dry,  rocky  soil,  with  stiff  and  thorny  branches,  making  pretty  and 
effective  hedges.  The  small,  deep-red  berry  (capul  negro)  is  acidulous, 
nice  to  eat  and  makes  fine  jelly. 

Condalia  spathulata,  Gray,  and  C.  Mexicana,  Watson. 

Evergreen  shrubs,  smaller  than  the  preceding,  the  former  common  in 
Western  Texas,  the  latter  on  the  Lower  Bio  Grande.  Both  horridly 
spinose  and  excellent  hedge-plants.  Berries  the  same  as  in  the  pre- 
ceding. 

Ceanothus  Fendleri,  Gray. 

Very  thorny  and  spreading  bush  in  foot-hills  beyond  the  Pecos;  also 
a possible  hedge  plant. 

Karwinskia  Humboldtiana,  Zucc. 

The  Coyotillo  of  the  Mexicans  on  the  Lower  Bio  Grande ; common 
on  the  Pecos  near  its  mouth  and  thence  eastward  to  the  coast.  Shrub 
with  beautifully  penninerved,  ovate  leaves,  and  brownish- black  berries 
said  to  be  very  poisonous.  The  virulent  principle  lies  in  the  seed,  the 
pulp  being  innocuous.  The  symptoms  are  those  of  paralysis  of  the 
spinal  cord,  primarily  affecting  locomotion. 

OLEACEiE. 

Fraxinus  viridis,  var.  Berlandieriana,  Torr.  (Texas  Green  Ash.) 

The  most  common  Ash  of  Southern  and  Western  Texas.  Large  tree 
in  the  Chenate  Mountains,  smaller  in  the  Lirnpio  and  Guadalupe  Mount- 
ains ; found  also  as  a medium-sized  tree  on  the  Pecos,  Devil’s  Biver,  and 
most  streams  farther  eastward  to  San  Antonio ; occurs  sparingly  on  the 
Lower  Bio  Grande,  the  Gulf  Coast,  and  the  water-courses  of  Southeast- 
ern Texas. 

Wood  hard,  tough  and  close-grained,  but  rather  devoid  of  elasticity. 

Fraxinus  pistacisefolia,  Torr. 

Low,  spreading  tree,  with  trunk  1 foot  or  more  in  diameter;  fre- 
quently planted  about  El  Paso  and  down  the  Bio  Grande  to  San  Eliza- 
rio,  on  account  of  its  quick  growth.  Also  seen  as  a small  tree  at  the 
base  of  the  Guadalupe  Mountains. 

Wood  softer  than  that  of  the  preceding. 

Fraxinus  pubescens,  Lam. 

Seen  as  a small  tree  on  the  summit  of  the  Guadalupe  Mountains,  and 
nowhere  else. 


510  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885.  • 
Fraxinus  cuspidata,  Torr. 

Small  tree  in  the  Chisos  Mountains  and  some  of  the  canons  of  the 
Great  Bend. 

Fraxinus  Greggii,  Gray. 

Stout  shrub,  noticed  near  the  mouth  of  the  Pecos  and  at  Maxon’s 
Spring;  only  good  for  fuel. 

Forestiera  reticulata,  Torr. 

Small  tree,  only  seen  in  canons  near  the  mouth  of  the  Pecos. 

Forestiera  angustifolia,  Torr. 

Stout  shrub,  rather  common  on  bluffs  and  in  mountain  arroyos,  with 
a black,  edible,  but  not  very  palatable,  berry. 

BORRAGINACEiE. 

Cordia  Boissieri,  A.  DC.  (Anacakuita. ) 

A small  tree  on  the  bluffs  of  the  Lower  Rio  Grande,  with  hard,  close- 
grained  wood.  Its  various  parts,  flower,  fruit,  leaf  and  wood,  all  im- 
pregnated with  the  same  pleasant  aromatic  principle,  are  popularly  , 
used  by  Mexicans  in  bronchial  affections.  An  extract  of  the  wood  is 
kept  in  drug  stores  and  prescribed  for  colds,  asthma,  phthisis,  &c. ; it  ; 
probably  acts  as  a stimulating  expectorant  and  diaphoretic.  The  fruit  j 
is  nearly  an  inch  long,  with  a pointed  stone  and  pulpy,  sweet  mesocarp 
of  which  Mexicans  are  fond.  Most  animals,  likewise,  eat  it.  A jelly  i 
made  with  it  is  given  to  coughing  children.  A decoction  of  the  leaves  is 
also  used  internally  and  externally  in  rheumatism. 

Ehretia  elliptica,  DC.  (Anaqua.) 

Seen  sparingly  near  New  Braunfels  ; very  common  on  the  Lower  Rio 
Grande  as  a tree  20  to  35  feet  high  and  stem  1 to  2 feet  in  diameter,  j 
with  dark  green  foliage.  Wood  tough,  making  good  lumber  and  fair 
fuel.  Fruit  the  size  of  a large  pea,  yellow,  with  a thin,  edible  pulp. 

t 

AN  AC  ARDI  ACEiE . 

Rhus  copallina,  L.  and  var.  lauceolata,  Gray.  (Dwarf  Sumach.) 

Shrub,  8 to  12  feet  high,  found,  the  variety  chiefly,  in  many  places 
west  of  San  Antonio. 

Rhus  virens,  Lindh.  (Live  Sumach.) 

Shrub  found  in  shady  arroyos  and  on  lower  slopes  of  mountains,  west 
of  the  Nueces  River.  The  leaves,  mixed  with  tobacco,  are  smoked  by 
Mexicans  and  Indians. 

Rhus  aromatica,  var.  trilobata,  Gray,  and  R.  microphylla,  Engelm. 

Both  abundant  on  bluffs  and  slopes. 

B.  copallina  contains  tannin  in  its  leaves  and  bark;  this  acid  may 
also  be  present  in  the  other  species  mentioned.  The  berries  of  all 
Sumachs  are  astringent,  acidulous,  and  make  agreeable  infusions. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OP  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  511 


Rhus  Toxicodendron,  L.  (Poison  Ivy.) 

Very  common  woody  climber  on  all  the  streams  of  Western  and 
Southern  Texas,  readily  recognized  by  its  trifoliate  (rarely  quinquefoli- 
ate)  leaves. 

The  peculiarly  distressing  eczematous  inflammation  produced  by  the 
leaves  of  this  plant,  even  without  actual  contact,  is  well  known.  It  is 
said  to  be  promptly  checked  and  cured  by  the  fluid  extract  of  Serpen- 
taria.  The  tincture  of  Grindelia  robusta , the  Gum-plant  of  California, 
used  as  a remedy  in  poisoning  by  Rhus  diversiloba , and  that  of  G.  squar- 
rosa , a common  herb  in  W.  Texas,  may  also  be  found  useful  against 
Poison  Ivy. 

Pistacia  Mexicana,  HBK. 

Small  tree,  with  an  edible  nut,  found  by  Bigelow  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Pecos.  I failed  to  see  it  in  that  locality  or  anywhere  else  in  Texas. 

VITACEiE. 

Vitis  candicans,  Engelm.  (Mustang  Grape.) 

Common  along  streams,  at  San  Antonio,  westward  to  Devil’s  River 
and  southward  to  the  Rio  Grande.  The  best  of  the  wild  Texas  Grapes, 
the  small  bunches  of  large  berries  maturing  late  in  June.  A form  was 
seen  on  the  Rio  Salado,  near  San  Antonio,  with  more  acidulous  berries, 
ripening  later  in  the  summer. 

Vitis  aestivalis,  Mx.  (Summer  Grape.) 

High  climber,  common  at  San  Antonio  and  westward  to  Devil’s  River. 
Berries  rather  acerb,  much  smaller  and  maturing  later  than  in  the  pre- 
ceding. The  var.  cinerea , common  at  Dallas,  is  rare  in  Southwestern 
Texas.  A form  (close  to  V.  riparia)  was  seen  in  the  canons  of  the  Bo- 
fecillos  Mountains  and  farther  west,  with  very  palatable  fruit  ripe  in 
August. 

Vitis  riparia,  Mx.  (Arroyo  Grape.) 

Common  in  most  watered  canons  in  Western  Texas.  Thrifty  climber, 
the  small  but  excellent  berries  maturing  in  October. 

Vitis  rupestris,  Scheele.  (Mountain  Grape.) 

Small,  bushy  plant,  a few  feet  high,  rarely  climbing.  Said  to  grow 
on  the  hillsides  of  the  Limpio  and  other  mountains.  I only  found  it  in 
the  valley  of  Devil’s  River.  Berries  in  very  small  bunches,  ripening  in 
June. 

Vitis  incisa,  Nutt.  (Yerba  del  Buey.) 

Ornamental  vine,  with  3-lobed,  or  trifoliate,  shining,  fleshy  leaves ; 
common  on  fences  and  walls  at  San  Antonio,  and  south  and  west  of  it  in 
shady  places.  The  long,  filamentous  roots  bear  large,  globose,  tuber- 
ous thickenings,  like  marbles  or  balls  strung  on  a string,  which  are  very 
poisonous,  causing  violent  vomiting  and  purging. 


512  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

The  stem  and  foliage  are  said  to  cause,  on  susceptible  persons,  the 
same  eczematous  eruption  as  Poison  Ivy.  The  juice  of  the  purple  berry 
u is  mixed  with  cochineal  and  used  by  Mexicans  to  dye  red  w. 

ROSACEiE. 

Frunus  Americana,  Marsh.,  var.  mollis,  T.  & G.  (Wild  Yellow  Plum.) 

Small  tree,  rather  sparse  on  the  San  Antonio  River  and  tributaries, 
with  yellow  fruit,  smaller  and  less  palatable  than  that  of  the  species  in 
the  Northern  States. 

Prunus  rivularis,  Scheele.  (Creek  Plum.)  • 

Small  shrub,  not  uncommon  on  the  Colorado  and  its  tributaries,  bear- 
ing excellent  red  plums  in  August  and  September.  Also  found  in  foot- 
hills, but  with  smaller  stem  and  fruit. 

Prunus  Capollin,  Zucc.  (Choke  Cherry.) 

Closely  allied  to  P.  Virginiana  and  demissa , into  which  it  may  run. 
Found  in  most  mountain  canons  of  Western  Texas,  from  a stout  shrub 
to  a tall,  slender  tree  1 foot  in  diameter  (Chisos  Mountains).  The  round, 
black  fruit,  the  size  of  a large  pea  or  small  marble,  is  pleasantly 
acidulous. 

Crataegus  subvillosa,  Schrad.  (Texas  Black  Thorn.) 

Small  tree,  on  the  San  Antonio  River  and  tributaries,  rare  farther 
west  and  south. 

Rubus  trivialis,  Mx.  (Low -Bush  Blackberry.) 

Common  at  San  Antonio  and  along  the  streams  farther  west  and 
south. 

SOLANACEiE. 

i 

Solanum  elaeagnifolium,  Cav.  (Trompillo.) 

One  of  the  most  common  of  weeds  in  all  valleys  of  Southern  and  West- 
ern Texas.  To  the  large,  purplish- violet  flowers  succeed  berries,  at  first 
green,  turning  yellow  and  then  black  as  they  mature,  the  size  of  small 
marbles.  These  berries,  when  ripe,  although  they  give  no  acid  reaction, 
have  the  remarkable  property  of  curdling  milk,  and  are  used  for  that 
purpose  by  the  natives  of  Northern  Mexico  and  Southern  Texas.  They 
are  crushed  into  powder $ this  is  put  into  a small  muslin  bag  which 
is  left  suspended  in  the  milk  until  coagulation  has  taken  place. 

According  to  Dr.  Gregg,  Mexicans  also  use  the  fruit  as  a sudorific  and 
sternutatory. 

Probably  the  larger  berries  of  8.  Torreyi  have  analogous  properties. 

Nicotiana  glauca,  L.  (Coneton;  Tronadora.) 

Rare  along  the  Rio  Grande  (only  found  at  two  or  three  places  in  the 
wild  state) ; frequently  cultivated  in  gardens  as  a handsome,  ornamental 
shrub  of  very  quick  growth.  The  young  stems  are  easily  killed  by 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  513 


Vol.VIII,  ]\o.  33.  Washington,  D.  C.  Sept.  30,  1885. 


frost,  but  new  shoots  spring  forth  which  during  the  first  summer  reach 
the  altitude  of  12  to  15  feet. 

The  large,  glaucous,  thickish  leaves  are  used  as  healing  and  anodine 
poultices. 

Nicotiana  repanda,  Willd.,  and  N.  trigonophylla,  Dunal.  (Wild  Tobacco.) 

Herbs  common,  the  first  at  San  Antonio  and  westward  to  Devil’s  River, 
the  second  west  of  this  stream  ; the  nearest  Texan  relatives  of  smoking 
tobacco.  Although  not  entirely  devoid  of  aroma  they  do  not  seem  of 
much  account  for  smoking. 

Capsicum  baccatum,  L.  (Bird  Pepper;  the  Chiltapin  of  Mexicans.) 

Very  small,  slender  shrub,  sparsely  found  in  Southwestern  Texas. 
Its  red,  oval  berries  are  exceedingly  pungent  and  highly  prized  as  con- 
diment. 

EUPHORBIACEiE. 

Euphorbia  albomarginata,  T.  & G.,  E.  stictospora,  Engelm.,  E.  cinerascens,  En- 
gelm.,  &c. 

Small,  prostrate  herbs,  common  in  Western  Texas  where,  as  in  Chi- 
huahua and  Sonora,  they  are  known  as  Golondrina  and  reputed  ef- 
fective antidotes  against  the  poison  of  rattlesnake.  The  var.  appendi- 
culata  of  the  last-named  species,  according  to  Mr.  Thurber,  is  regarded 
by  the  Mexicans  of  Sonora  as  a certain  cure  for  the  bite  of  rattlesnake 
and  other  venomous  animals : u The  bruised  fresh  plant,  or  the  dried, 
steeped  in  wine,  is  applied  to  the  wound.  A tincture  of  the  plant  is 
sometimes  kept  in  the  apothecary’s  shops  of  that  country.” 

Euphorbia  antisyphilitica,  Zucc. 

On  the  gravelly  and  limestone  hills  of  the  Rio  Grande;  “ remarkable 
for  its  long,  terete,  nearly  leafless  branches,  which  resemble  an  Equise- 
turn”  Whether  this  herb  is  endowed  with  such  properties  as  its  name 
indicates,  I have  been  unable  to  ascertain. 

Mozinna  spathulata,  Orteg.  (Sangre  de  Drago,  or  simply  Drago.) 

Erect,  shrubby  plant,  with  simple,  flexible,  biownish  stems,  bearing 
wart-like  spurs  from  which  grow  linear  spatulate,  or  3-lobed,  leaves. 
Common  on  the  gravelly  bluffs  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  stems,  from  their  flexibility  and  toughness,  can  be  used  as  withes 
• and  whips.  They,  as  well  as  the  roots,  contain  a reddish,  astringent 
juice  which  becoms  quite  frothy  when  rubbed,  and  are  employed  by  the 
natives  as  a remedy  to  cleanse  the  teeth  and  harden  the  gums.  The 
juice  can  also  be  used  to  make  indelible  marks  on  linen. 

Jatropha  macrorhiza,  Benth.  J.  multifida. 

Species  of  Spurge-Nettle,  with  slender,  reclining  stems  and  pretty  foli- 
age,  growing  from  a large,  globular  rhizoma.  Common  on  the  Lower 
Proc.  Nat.  Mus.  85 33 


514  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885, 

Eio  Grande  where  it  is  called  Jalapa  by  Mexicans.  The  rliizoma  is 
emetic  and  purgative ; it  is  kept,  powdered,  in  the  drug  stores  of  North- 
ern Mexico.  The  seeds  are  also  strongly  purgative. 

Croton  corymbulosus,  Engelm.  (Encenilla;  Chaparral  Tea.) 

Very  common  weed  of  valleys  and  prairies.  An  infusion  of  the 
flowering  tops,  either  green  or  dried,  makes  an  excellent  tea  having 
sudorific,  carminative  and  tonic  properties,  but  devoid  of  stimulating 
and  astringent  principles.  It  is  much  used  by  Mexicans,  Indians  and 
colored  United  States  soldiers.  The  latter  prefer  it  to  coffee  in  the 
field. 

The  C.  suaveolens , a small  shrub  in  the*foot-hills  of  mountains,  ex- 
haling a delicious  fragrance,  would  probably  likewise  make  an  excellent 
tea. 

Acalypha  Lindheimeri,  Mull. 

Perennial  herb,  with  many  weak,  ascending,  downy  stems,  on  hillsides 
in  Western  Texas.  “According  to  Dr.  Gregg,  this  plant  is  used  by 
Mexicans  as  a wash  for  sore  gums  and  loose  teeth,  and  as  an  applica- 
tion to  ulcers.” 

ZYGOPHYLLACEiE. 

Lane  a Mexicana,  Moric.  (Creosote-Bush.) 

Very  common  shrub  on  gravelly  mesas  and  bluffs  west  of  the  Pecos. 
It  owes  its  name  to  the  unpleasant  tarry  odor  which  it  exhales.  The 
branchlets  are  often  covered  with  an  abundant  red-brown  exhudate 
from  which,  according  to  Dr.  Loew,  can  be  obtained  a red  coloring 
matter  showing  all  the  reactions  of  cochineal.  The  leaves  contain  a 
peculiar  resinous  substance,  soluble  in  alcohol,  to  which  is  due  the  pe- 
culiar smell  of  the  plant  and  its  active  properties.  It  is  principally  used 
in  rheumatic  affections  by  the  Mexicans,  who  bathe  in  an  infusion  of  the 
branchlets  and  leaves.  This  infusion  is  acrid  and  nauseous  and  does 
not  seem  to  be  ever  taken  internally.  It  is  used  by  Mexican  shoemakers 
to  dye  leather  red. 

The  green  branches  and  foliage  burn  with  a bright  blaze  giving  off 
intense  heat,  and  are  much  used  in  lime-kilns. 

Porliera  angustifolia,  Gray.  (Guayacan.) 

Evergreen,  straggling  shrub  on  bluffs,  or  a very  small  tree  in  valleys 
and  sheltered  canons,  from  the  Lower  Eio  Grande  to  San  Antonio  and 
the  Pecos  ; more  sparingly  beyond. 

This  shrub  has  probably,  in  a varying  degree,  all  the  properties  of* 
the  genus  Guayacum  to  which  it  is  closely  allied  botanically.  Wood 
heavy,  close-grained,  very  compact  olive-green  in  the  center  and  with  a 
large  yellowish  zone  of  sap-wood.  Although  somewhat  brittle,  it  must 
be  of  much  value  to  cabinet-makers.  A decoction  of  it  is  used  by  Mexi- 
cans as  a vascular  stimulant  and  sudorific,  in  rheumatism,  amenorrhcea 
and  venereal  diseases. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  515 


Posts  of  Guayacan  are  said  never  to  decay,  and  therefore  must  he  of 
much  value  for  fencing.  The  bark  of  the  roots,  ground,  possesses 
strong  detergent  properties  and  is  reputed  excellent  to  wash  woolen 
fabrics. 

RUTACEiE. 

Xanthoxylum  Clava-Herculis,  L.  X.  Carolinianum,  Lam.  (Prickly  Ash;  Tooth- 
ache-Tree.) 

Prickly  shrub,  with  pinnate  leaves ; common  on  banks  of  streams. 

Xanthoxylum  Pterota,  HBK.  (Colima.) 

Very  common  shrub  on* the  Lower  Eio  Grande;  distinguished  from 
the  preceding  by  the  winged-margined  petioles  and  smaller  leaflets. 
Wood  yellow,  dense,  exceedingly  hard  and  heavy. 

The  bark,  leaves  and  fruit  of  these  two  species  are  very  pungent  and 
acrid,  causing  a strong  and  lasting  tingling  sensation  in  the  tongue 
and  lips,  followed  by  partial  numbness.  The  former  is  officinally  used 
in  decoction  as  an  arterial  and  nervous  stimulant.  The  leaves  of  both, 
chewed,  are  an  effective  sialogogue. 

Helietta  parvifolia,  Benth.  (Barreta.) 

Shrub  common  on  the  bluffs  of  the  Lower  Eio  Grande,  apparently 
only  good  for  fuel. 

Ptelea  trifoliata,  L.  (Hop-Tree.) 

Shrub  or  very  small  tree  on  the  San  Antonio  Eiver  and  other  streams 
of  Western  Texas. 

Ptelea  angustifolia,  Benth. 

Shrub  said  to  occur  on  the  Lower  Eio  Grande ; probably  rare. 

SIMARUBEiE. 

Castela  erecta,  Turpin.  (Goat  Bush;  the  Amargoso  of  the  Mexicans.) 

Stiff,  branching,  prickly  shrub,  3 to  5 feet  high,  common  on  the  grav- 
elly bluffs  of  the  Lower  Eio  Grande  from  Eagle  Pass  downward.  An 
excellent  hedge-plant  for  high  and  rocky  places. 

The  bark  is  intensely  bitter  and  probably  contains  tannin  and  some 
principle  akin  to  quinine.  Its  decoction  is  used  by  Mexicans  as  an 
astringent,  tonic,  and  febrifuge.  The  remarkable  properties  of  this 
bark,  and  perhaps  of  the  wood,  seem  to  warrant  fuller  investigation. 

Kceberlinia  spinosa,  Zucc.  (Junco.) 

Very  curious  shrub,  destitute  of  apparent  foliage,  the  green,  stiff,  very 
intricate  branches  all  tapering  into  thorns.  Common  in  Western  and 
Southern  Texas  from  El  Paso  to  Brownsville.  On  the  Lower  Eio  Grande 
it  becomes  arborescent.  Makes  quite  formidable  hedges. 

Wrood  of  a very  deep  brown  color,  resinous,  hard  and  heavy;  it  burns 
with  a bright  blaze,  giving  off  intense  heat  and  a disagreeable  smell. 


516  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885.' 


LILIACEiE. 

Yucca  baccata,  including  var.  australis,  Eng.  (Spanish  Bayonet  or  Dagger;  the 
Palma  Criolla  of  the  Mexicans.) 

Variable  in  size,  from  a mere  cluster  of  leaves  on  a very  short  caudex 
to  a tree  30  feet  high  and  18  inches  or  more  in  diameter.  Common  on 
high  mesas  throughout  Western  and  Southern  Texas ; specially  large  and 
thrifty  on  the  wide  slopes  leading  up  to  the  base  of  mountains. 

The  leaves  of  this  Yucca  yield  an  excellent  textile  fiber ; for  this  and 
other  reasons  it  is  considered  one  of  the  most  valuable  economic  plants 
of  Texas. 

Every  year  a tuft  of  lea  ves,  from  ten  to  twenty,  grows  on  or  near  the 
summit  of  the  plant;  they  attain  their  full  development  the  second 
season,  with  the  inflorescence  of  the  gorgeous  panicle  of  flowers,  and 
for  several  years  remain  green  and  pliable.  As  the  tree  becomes  fifteen 
or  more  years  old,  the  lower  leaves  begin  to  shrink ; later  they  droop 
and  wither  into  membranaceous  shreds,  forming  a thick  thatch  around 
the  stem  of  the  tree.  This  thatch  is  very  useful  for  kindling  fires  in 
the  field,  the  inner  layer  always  remaining  dry  in  rainy  weather. 

On  old  trees,  the  only  available  leaves,  that  is,  those  of  the  last  four 
or  five  years,  are  about  the  summit  and  therefore  of  difficult  access ; 
they  are  also  likely  to  be  short  and  dwarfed.  The  best  leaves  are  those 
produced  by  trees  not  more  than  about  fifteen  years  old ; before  that 
age  has  been  reached  several  hundreds  of  leaves  can  be  collected.  In 
order  not  to  injure  the  growth  of  the  stem,  the  last  one  or  two  clusters, 
near  the  top,  should  be  spared.  It  would  be  well  to  cut  off  the  young- 
flower  stalk  as  soon  as  it  is  fairly  developed  in  order  to  divert  the  sap 
into  the  leaves. 

The  length  of  the  full-grown  leaf  is  3 to  4 feet,  yielding  a fiber  aver- 
aging 3 feet  and  3 inches.  This  fiber  is  not  as  strong  as  that  of  the 
Lechuguilla,  but  is  said  to  compare  favorably  with  that  of  hemp ; it  is 
whiter,  smoother  and  more  flexible  than  the  former,  and  makes  prettier 
fabrics.  It  is  obtained  by  the  same  process. 

The  leaf,  when  slightly  parched,  becomes  very  supple  and  cau  be  split 
into  several  strands  which  are  used  as  whips  and  withes,  and  made  to 
answer  all  the  purposes  of  rope  and  string ; with  them  are  tied  up  the 
sheaves  at  harvest  time,  the  bundles  of  hay  cut  on  the  mesas,  the  various 
articles  carried  on  the  saddle  and  the  burro’s  pack,  &c. 

The  roots,  pounded  and  reduced  to  a pulp  by  adding  water,  are  used 
by  Mexicans  and  Indians  as  an  excellent  substitute  for  soap,  under  the 
general  name  of  “ atnole,”  and  are  not  probably  much  inferior  in  this 
respect  to  Lechuguilla  leaves.  According  to  Dr.  Loew,  they  contain 
sugar,  resin,  tannin,  gum,  and  saponin.  The  latter  substance  is  what 
makes  this  u arnole”  foam  like  soap  when  shaken  or  rubbed  with  water 
and  gives  it  detergent  properties.  The  parenchyma,  or  pith,  remaining 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  517 

after  the  extraction  of  the  fibers,  and  constituting  about  one-third  in 
weight  of  the  leaves,  may  possibly  also  contain  saponin. 

Every  year  this  plant  puts  forth  a huge  and  dense  cluster  of  white 
flowers,  succeeded  by  fleshy  pods  which  as  they  mature,  assume  some- 
what the  size  and  shape  of  bananas.  The  pulp,  half  an  inch  thick, 
which  covers  the  seeds,  is  delicious  if  exactly  ripe.  Unfortunately  it 
often  happens  that  this  pulp  decays  before,  or  is  eaten  up  by  insects 
after,  maturity.  If  picked  when  still  a little  green  and  laid  in  a dry 
place,  the  pods  will  ripen  sufficiently  in  a few  days  to  be  very  pala- 
table. 

They  are  also  distilled  $ from  them  much  aguardiente,  or  rum,  is  made 
in  Northern  Mexico. 

Yucca  angustifolia,  Pursh,  and  Y.  rupicola,  Scheele. 

These  two  species,  common,  the  former  west  and  the  latter  east  of 
the  Pecos,  are  also  “amole”  plants,  containing  in  their  roots  more  or  less 
of  the  detergent  saponaceous  substance  described  above.  As  textile 
plants  they  are  of  but  little  importance. 

Dasylirion  Texanum,  Scheele.  (Bear  Grass ; the  Sotol  of  the  Mexicans.) 

Characterized  by  a thick  tuft  or  cluster  of  long,  green,  armed  leaves, 
from  the  midst  of  which  rises  periodically  a stout  stem  10  to  12  feet  high, 
bearing  a long,  close  panicle.  Abundant  west  of  the  Pecos,  covering 
almost  exclusively  many  square  miles  of  arid  and  stony  slopes,  the  most 
striking  botanical  feature  of  the  country.  Also  found  on  nearly  all  the 
foot-hills  of  Western  Texas. 

The  stems  can  be  used  in  building  huts  where  timber  is  scant,  and 
make  fair  fuel  in  places  where  no  other  can  be  had. 

The  base  of  the  leaves,  and  the  young  stems,  are  full  of  a nutritious  sac- 
charine and  antiscorbutic  pulp  which  supplies,  specially  when  cooked, 
useful  and  palatable  food.  Bears  are  fond  of  it,  as  testify  the  many  plants 
found  pulled  up  and  torn  open  in  the  spring.  After  the  leaves  have 
been  chopped  off  close,  leaving  nothing  but  their  white  expanded  and 
imbricated  bases,  the  resulting  u head”  is  ready  for  cooking ; it  can  be 
boiled,  broiled  on  coals,  or  baked.  Baking,  the  usual  mode  of  prepar- 
ing it  for  food  or  the  distillation  of  mescal,  is  done  in  a small  heated  pit 
where  it  is  kept  for  about  twenty  Tour  hours. 

The  baked  head,  after  pounding,  fermentation  and  distillation,  pro- 
duces a limpid,  colorless  liquor  of  penetrating  smell  and  peculiar  taste 
not  unlike  the  smoky  flavor  of  Scotch  whisky.  It  is  the  Sotol  mescal, 
the  ordinary  alcoholic  beverage  of  the  frontier  Mexican  population,  and 
in  no  way  inferior  to  the  average  whisky  found  in  that  country. 

The  mescal,  vino  mescal  or  taquile,  of  the  interior  of  Mexico,  is  ob- 
tained in  a similar  manner  by  the  baking  and  distillation  of  the  head, 
or  cajeta,  of  the  Mexican  Maguey  (Agave  Americana).  It  is  a liquor  of 
superior  quality  to  Sotol  mescal.  It  should  not  be  confounded  with 
u pulque,”  the  sweetish,  mild  beverage  so  popular  in  the  cities  of  Mexico, 


518  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

obtained  from  the  sap  of  the  Agave  Americana , gathered  in  the  cavity 
made  in  the  heart  of  the  plant  by  the  removal  of  the  young  central 

leaves. 

As  a textile  plant  Sotol  is  worthless. 

Nolina  Texana,  Watson. 

Abundant  on  all  the  foot-hills  of  Western  Texas.  Used  by  Mexicans 
to  thatch  their  huts,  or  jacals,  and  make  brooms. 

AMARYLLIDACEiE. 

Agave  heteracantha,  Zucc.  (Lechuguilla.) 

This  notorious  plant  begins  west  of  Devil’s  Eiver  and  infests  most  of 
the  limestone  highlands  of  Southwestern  Texas,  often  covering  the 
ground  in  such  dense  patches  as  to  make  it  impassable  for  man  or  beast. 
It  is  pre-eminently  the  textile  plant  of  Northern  Mexico. 

It  blossoms  when  three  or  four  years  old  and  then  dies.  Its  reproduc- 
tion from  root-stock  and  seed  is  easy  and  rapid.  Each  plant  consists  of 
a cluster  of  about  a dozen  leaves  armed  on  the  edges  with  hooked 
prickles  and  tipped  with  a stiff,  black  spine.  They  vary  in  length  from 
1 to  2 feet  and  in  width  from  1 to  2 inches,  and  yield  a fiber  of  an  aver- 
age length  of  15  inches,  which  is  considered  the  toughest  and  most  dura- 
ble of  any  produced  in  Mexico.  With  it  are  made  all  the  ropes  (not 
hair)  and  most  of  the  bags,  mats,  &c.,  used  in  the  Eepublic.  The  de- 
fects of  the  Lechuguilla  fiber  are  its  coarseness  and  shortness.  It  is 
obtained  as  follows  : The  leaves,  trimmed  and  separated,  are  crushed 
between  rollers  which  squeeze  out  a large  amount  of  glutinous,  soapy, 
connective  pith ; they  are  then  exposed  to  the  sun  for  half  a day  or  more, 
when  the  fibers  are  easily  separated  by  hand  or  still  better  by  machin- 
ery which,  at  the  same  time,  removes  the  remaining  pith.  The  Mex- 
icans, mostly  unprovided  with  machinery,  still  scrape  the  green  leaves 
with  knives ; the  shreds  and  shavings  thus  obtained  are  left  to  dry  a 
few  hours  upon  the  ground,  then  they  are  thoroughly  washed  to  rid 
them  of  all  the  mucilaginous  pith,  and  finally  the  fibers  are  picked  or 
combed  apart. 

Lechuguilla  is  the  most  important  of  the  soap  or  “amole”  plants  of 
Southwestern  Texas  and  Northern  Mexico.  In  the  process  described 
above  to  extract  the  fiber,  the  parenchyma  or  pith  squeezed  out,  con- 
stitutes about  40  per  cent,  of  the  green  leaf;  when  dried  it  is  a white- 
yellowish,  mucilaginous  powder  which  possesses  remarkable  cleansing 
properties,  principally  due  to  the  presence  of  saponin.  Its  composition 
is  very  probably  analogous  to  that  of  the  root  of  Yucca  baccata , already 
noticed.  Eubbed  with  water,  it  foams  and  lathers,  answering  the  pur- 
pose of  good  soap  without,  owing  to  its  freedom  from  alkali,  its  dis- 
advantages. It  imparts  a smooth  and  satiny  appearance  to  the  skin, 
and  is  used  successfully  in  removing  stains  from  the  most  delicate  fab- 
rics. It  tends  rather  to  set  than  to  displace  colors,  and  articles  likely 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  519 


to  fade  may  be  washed  with  this  in  safety.  It  is  also  an  excellent  wash 
for  the  scalp  and  hair,  leaving  the  latter  soft  and  glossy.  If  this  pow- 
der could  be  compressed  into  small  cakes  or  tablets,  it  would  doubtless 
become  an  important  article  of  trade. 

Mexicans  and  Indians,  after  removing  the  prickles,  pound  the  leaves 
into  a pulp  which  they  use  instead  of  soap. 

.Agave  Wislizeni,  Engelm.  (Texas  Mescal.) 

The  noted  Mescal  plants  of  the  Arizona  Apaches  {Agave  Palmeri  and 
Parryi ) do  not  extend  to  Texas.  They  are  replaced  in  all  the  mountains 
of  Western  Texas,  from  the  Guadalupe  to  the  Chisos,  by  a larger  and 
taller  species,  A.  Wislizeni , formerly  used  by  Texas  Indians  in  the  same 
way.  The  heart  of  the  plant,  before  it  puts  forth  the  flowering  stalk, 
with  the  leaves  trimmed  off  close,  forms  the  “head”  which  is  baked  in 
heated  pits.  Some  of  the  old  pits  can  still  be  seen  in  the  Guadalupe 
Mountains.  Cooking  develops  a large  proportion  of  grape-sugar  which 
renders  this  head  pleasant  and  nutritious  food.  The  sugar,  according  to 
Dr.  Loew,  exists  in  combination  with  citric  acid,  as  a citro-glueosid,  and 
is  set  free  by  exposure  to  heat  or  on  application  of  cold  water. 

The  leaf  contains  textile  fibers,  but  they  are  too  short  and  too  few  to 
be  of  much  account.  When  young  it  yields  by  pressure  a juice  slightly 
acidulous,  laxative  and  diuretic,  therefore  a good  antiscorbutic. 

The  young  stems,  when  they  shoot  out  in  the  spring,  are  tender  and 
sweet-tasted ; they  are  then  eaten  with  great  relish  by  Mexicans  and 
Indians. 

It  is  probable  enough  that  the  leaves  and  roots  contain  more  or  less 
of  the  same  detergent  saponaceous  substance  as  Lechuguilla. 

Agave  Americana,  L.  (Mexican  Maguey.) 

This  plant,  of  such  vital  importance  to  Mexico,  is  also  spontaneous 
at  a few  points  in  Southeastern  Texas  where  it  might  be  advantageously 
cultivated,  not  only  for  its  fiber  but  also  for  the  pulque  and  mescal 
which  it  yields. 

Agave  Sisalana,  Perrine. 

The  Ixtli  or  Pita  plant  of  Mexico,  the  most  valuable  of  the  fiber-pro- 
ducing Agaves,  naturalized  in  South  Florida.  It  has  been  success- 
fully introduced  on  the  Lower  Bio  Grande. 

CACTACEiE. 

Cereus  stramineus,  Eng.  (Strawberry  Cactus;  Pitahaya.) 

Very  common  west  of  the  Pecos  where  it  grows  in  large  hemispherical 
masses;  rarer  in  Southeastern  Texas.  The  ripe  fruit  is  red,  1J  inches 
long,  1 inch  thick,  with  thin  skin  bearing  but  few  spines  and  easily 
peeled  off.  It  is  equal  or  superior,  in  quality  and  flavor,  to  the  best 
strawberry.  The  seeds,  scattered  through  the  pulp,  are  so  fine  as  to 
be  unnoticed.  Only  a comparatively  small  number  of  blossoms  ripen 


520  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885v 

their  fruit,  so  that,  although  the  plant  is  abundant,  the  berry  exactly 
ripe  and  untouched  by  insects  is  never  common.  Whenever  the  trav- 
eler notices  the  pink  fruit,  glowing  through  the  long  spiny  straws  beset- 
ting the  stem,  he  seldom  fails  to  dismount  and  secure  it,  even  at  the 
risk  of  getting  his  hands  badly  punctured. 

Cereus  dubius,  Eng.,  and  C.  enneacanthus,  Eng. 

Species  allied  to  the  preceding  and  common  from  El  Paso  down  to 
the  Lower  Eio  Grande ; edible  fruit,  varying  in  size  and  quality,  seldom 
ripening. 

Cereus  dasyacanthus,  Eng. 

About  El  Paso  and  downward  to  the  Canon  of  the  Rio  Grande,  on 
rocky  hills.  u Fruit  subglobose,  1 inch  in  diameter,  green  or  greenish 
purple,  when  fully  ripe  delicious  to  eat,  much  like  a gooseberry 

Echinocactus  longehamatus,  Galeotti.  (Turk’s  Head.) 

Common  along  the  Rio  Grande,  specially  in  the  Great  Bend  country. 
Heads  1 to  2 feet  in  diameter,  with  long,  hooked  spines.  Fruit  ripening 
in  September,  1 to  2 inches  long,  red,  and  as  delicious  as  that  of  the 
Strawberry  Cactus. 

E.  horizonthalonius , Lemaire,  and  perhaps  others,  under  the  name  of 
Bisagre,  are  sliced,  candied  in  Mexican  sugar  and  kept  in  confection- 
eries. 

Mamillaria  meiacantha,  Eng. 

Common  at  San  Antonio  and  southwestward  into  the  Great  Bend. 
The  oblong  scarlet  berries,  an  inch  or  less  long,  are  very  good  to  eat. 

Mamillaria  tuberculosa,  Eng. 

Common  west  of  Devil’s  River.  The  red  berries  are  also  very  palata- 
ble. 

Opuntia  Engelmanni,  Salm.  (Prickly  Pear.) 

This  and  other  species  of  flat-jointed  Opuntia , known  under  the  name 
of  Nopal,*  abound  all  over  Southern  and  Western  Texas. 

The  joints,  erroneously  called  u leaves,”  are  readily  eaten  by  cattle 
and  sheep  for  which  they  are  an  important  article  of  food.  It  is  well, 
as  far  as  practicable,  to  make  them  undergo  a preliminary  scorching 
for  a few  moments,  over  a bright  fire,  to  burn  off  the  bristles  and  blunt 
the  spines.  I have  seen  cattle  eating  Nopal  leaves  with  great  relish  in 
the  open  field,  although  there  was  good  green  Grama  near  by,  seemingly 
indifferent  to  the  many  bristles  and  spines  sticking  to  their  noses.  There 
are  times  when  they  prefer  them  to  any  other  food.  These  leaves  con- 
tain a large  proportion  of  water  and  often  save  cattle  and  sheep  from 
great  suffering  in  dry  seasons.  If  the  time  of  drought  be  much  pro- 

* The  Mexican  names  Nopal  and  Tuna  should  not  be  confounded ; the  former  refers 
to  the  lesfves,  the  latter  to  the  fruit  of  the  several  species  of  Prickly  Pear. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  521 

longed,  however,  they  lose  much  of  their  water  by  evaporation  and  be- 
come very  thin ; the  pulp  shrinks  and  the  fibrous  frame- work  prepon- 
derates; in  this  state  they  are  liable  to  cause  sickness  in  animals  feed- 
ing on  them.  During  the  three  or  four  winter  months,  on  the  Lower 
Eio  Grande,  sheep  often  get  no  other  food  than  Nopal  leaves.  Every 
morning  the  shepherd  cuts  down,  with  his  hand-ax,  or  u machete,”  the 
amount  required  for  the  day ; as  a rule  he  does  not  fire  them.  It  is  to 
be  noted  that  as  long  as  they  feed  on  them  the  sheep  require  no  drinking 
water. 

The  Nopal  leaf  is  much  used  by  Mexicans  and  frontiersmen  as  a 
poultice  in  bruises,  ulcers  and  sores  of  all  kinds.  It  is  first  slightly 
toasted  to  remove  bristles  and  thorns,  as  well  as  to  warm  and  soften  the 
pulp  ; then  it  is  split  in  two,  or  simply  one  of  the  surfaces  shaved  off, 
and  the  exposed  pulp  applied  to  the  part.  From  the  testimony  of  many 
intelligent  people  I am  inclined  to  regard  this  as  an  excellent  healing 
and  gently  stimulating  application. 

It  is  also  useful  to  clarify  water.  After  being  scorched  it  is  mashed 
into  a pulp  which  when  thrown  in  water,  like  egg  albumen,  drags  all 
impurities  to  the  bottom. 

Again,  this  leaf  may  be  prepared  for  food  by  boiling  it  in  salt  water; 
if  afterwards  cut  up  into  a hash  with  eggs  and  chile  Colorado,  it  makes 
quite  a savory  dish. 

Opuntia  Engelmanni , dulcis , and  other  species  of  flat-jointed  Prickly 
Pear,  common  along  the  Eio  Grande  and  Southwestern  Texas,  produce 
large  berries,  1 to  2 inches  long,  full  of  a purplish  pulp,  sometimes  sweet 
and  pleasantly  acidulous,  at  other  times  insipid  and  nauseous,  and  al- 
ways full  of  small,  indigestible  seeds.  Mexicans  and  Indians  are  fond 
of  them. 

The  0.  Engelmanni , on  the  Lower  Eio  Grande,  and  0.  tuna  in  Northern 
Mexico  and  California,  which  under  favorable  conditions  grow  stout  and 
tall,  with  a tendency  to  spread,  are  often  trained  into  hedges  around 
houses  and  gardens,  which  are  as  effective  as  ornamental.  These  plants 
are  easily  grown,  as  any  joint  stuck  in  the  ground  generally  takes  root. 

Anhalonium  fissuratum,  Eng.  (Peyote.) 

Napiform  cactus,  with  flat,  fissured  top,  hardly  rising  above  the  ground, 
producing  a handsome  pink  flower  in  the  early  summer.  Found  on 
rocky  highlands  west  of  Devil’s  Eiver,  specially  in  Presidio  County,  ex- 
tending thence  into  Mexico. 

The  fleshy  part  of  the  plant  is  used,  and  pieces  are  found  in  most 
Mexican  houses.  An  infusion  of  it  is  said  to  be  good  in  fevers.  It  is 
principally  as  an  intoxicant  that  the  Peyote  has  become  noted,  being 
often  added  to  u tizwin  ” or  other  mild  fermented  native  drink  to  render 
it  more  inebriating.  If  chewed  it  produces  a sort  of  delirious  exhila- 
ration which  has  won  for  it  the  designation  of  u dry  whisky.” 


522  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  L1885. 

CUCURBITACEiE. 

Cucurbita  perennis,  Gray.  (Calabacilla.) 

This  creeping  vine,  with  its  large,  rough,  whitish,  triangular  leaves,  is 
very  abundant  in  all  valleys  of  Western  Texas,  and  extends  to  Cali- 
fornia. The  fruit,  when  ripe,  is  about  the  color  and  size  of  an  orange. 

Brewer  and  Watson  state,  in  FI.  Cal.,  “that  the  pulp  of  the  green  fruit 
is  used  with  soap  to  remove  stains  from  clothing,  and  that  the  macerated 
root  is  used  as  a remedy  for  piles  and  the  seeds  are  eaten  by  the  Indians.” 

The  leaves  bruised  between  the  fingers  emit  a nauseous  smell.  When 
eaten  by  cows  in  the  spring,  as  sometimes  happens,  a very  disagreeable 
flavor  is  given  to  their  milk  and  butter. 

This  plant  has  an  enormous  fleshy  root  which  enjoys  medicinal  proper- 
ties among  Texans,  but  I was  not  able  to  ascertain  what  they  are. 

Apodanthera  undulata,  Gray.  (Melon  Loco.) 

Common  in  places.  As  the  name  indicates,  the  fruit  is  considered 
poisonous  by  the  Mexicans.  On  the  contrary,  the  large  napiform  root 
is  said  to  be  esculent. 

Maximowiczia  (Sicydium)  Lindheimeri,  Watson. 

Comuion  in  the  valleys  of  Southern  and  Western  Texas.  Thrifty  or- 
namental vine,  climbing  over  trees  and  bushes,  with  beautiful  scarlet, 
pendent  berries,  the  size  of  large  pigeon’s  eggs. 

Citrullus  vulgaris.  (Watermelon.) 

Found  in  the  wild  state,  west  of  the  Pecos,  in  many  places  where  the 
seeds  were  carried  by  water  or  other  agencies. 

KRAMERIACEiE. 

Three  species  and  one  variety  of  Kramer ia  are  common  in  Western 
and  Southern  Texas.  They  all  contain  tannin,  and,  like  K.  triandra  of 
South  America,  to  which  they  are  closely  allied,  may  be  found  useful 
medicinal  plants. 

They  are : K.  lanceolata , a decumbent  herb,  only  ligneous  at  the  base ; 
K.  parvifolia  and  its  var.  ramosissima , low,  straggling,  much  branched 
bushes ; K.  canescens , small  bush,  one  to  three  feet  high,  particularly 
abundant  in  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Bio  Grande.  The  latter  is  called 
Chacate  by  the  Mexicans  who  use  an  infusion  of  the  bark  of  the  root  to 
dye  leather  brownish -red. 

COMPOSITE. 

Helianthus  annuus,  L.f  including  H.  lenticularis  of  Douglas.  (Common  Sunflower. ) 

Abundant  in  all  valleys.  Seeds  used  for  food  by  Indians  and  to  fat- 
ten poultry  by  Mexicans,  yielding  by  expression  a fair  quality  of  oil. 

Grindelia  squarrosa,  Dunal.  (Gum  Plant.) 

Common  on  prairies  west  of  the  Pecos,  and,  like  its  congener,  G.  ro- 
busta  of  California,  probably  useful  in  bronchial  affections  and  as  a 
topical  application  in  poisoning  by  Bhus  toxicodendron . 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  523 
Parthenium  hysterophorus,  L . 

One  of  the  commonest  weeds  about  the  streets  of  San  Antonio.  Con- 
tains a bitter  principle  associated  with  an  essential  oil.  An  infusion 
from  the  tops  is  said* to  be  useful  in  some  forms  of  dyspepsia  and  in  in- 
termittent fever. 

Hymenatheram  Gnaphaliopsis,  Gray. 

Small,  spreading,  woolly  herb  of  Southern  Texas,  called  Lepiana  by 
the  Mexicans,  and  used  by  them  and  the  Indians  as  a remedy  for  ca- 
tarrh. 

Engelmannia  pinnatifida,  T.  & G. 

Perennial  herb,  common  on  the  high  prairies  of  Western  Texas,  said 
to  be  poisonous. 

Bidens  Bigelovii,  Gray. 

Species  of  Spanish  Needles,  common  in  the  foot-hills  of  Presidio 
County,  and  valued  by  Mexicans  as  one  of  their  best  tea  plants.  The 
leaves  are  collected  during  the  time  of  inflorescence,  parboiled  and  then 
dried  in  the  sun,  when  they  are  ready  for  use.  Their  infusion  has  su- 
dorific, carminative  and  tonic  properties. 

Cbrysactinia  Mexicana,  Gray. 

One  of  the  Damianas  of  the  Mexicans.  Small,  branching  bush,  a 
foot  high  or  more,  with  heath-like  leaves,  punctate  with  round  oil  glands, 
exhaling  a strong  resinous,  aromatic  odor.  Found  rather  sparingly  in 
rocky  foot-hills  of  Western  Texas.  Used  by  Mexicans,  mostly  as  a su- 
dorific, in  rheumatism  and  fevers. 

Pectis  angustifolia,  Torr.,  P.  longipes.  Gray,  and  P.  papposa,  Gray. 

Small,  lemon-scented  herbs,  with  abundant  star-like  yellow  blossoms, 
filling  the  air  with  their  fragrance.  Common  in  Western  and  Southern 
Texas.  It  is  probable  they  would  yield  by  distillation  a rich  perfume. 

Actinella  odorata,  Gray.  (Limonillo.) 

Herb  with  filiform-dissected  leaves,  in  Southern  Texas.  Also  a per- 
fume plant. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

TREES  AND  SHRUBS. 

Diospyros  Texana,  Sckeele.  (Mexican  Persimmon;  the  Chapote  of  the  Mexicans.) 

Often  found  on  rocky  mesas  but  thrives  best  in  canons  and  on  the 
edges  of  ravines.  Common  from  San  Antonio  westward  and  southward. 
Shrub  or  small  tree  10  to  20  feet  high,  with  soft,  white  wood. 

The  black,  globose  fruit,  smaller  than  its  congener  of  the  Eastern 
States,  is  about  as  astringent  when  green  and  as  sweet  when  ripe,  in 
August  and  September.  I have  not  seen  any  unpleasant  effect  from 
its  free  use  in  the  field.  Stains  black  everything  it  touches,  and  Mexi- 
cans use  it  to  dye  sheep  skins  by  boiling. 


524  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MTJSEUM.  [1885. 
Chilopsis  saligna,  Don.  (Desert  Willow.) 

Small  ornamental  tree  of  the  Bignonia  Order,  with  willow-like  foliage 
and  handsome  pink  or  purplish  flowers.  Common  in  all  dry  mountain 
arroyos  west  of  the  Pecos.  Often  cultivated  in  gardens.  Mexicans  use 
the  flowers  in  fevers  and  as  a stimulant  in  cardiac  diseases. 

Berberis  trifoliolata,  Moric.  (Three-foil  Barberry.) 

Pretty  shrub,  2 to  5 feet  high,  with  stiff,  trifoliate,  spinescent  leaves, 
on  gravelly  slopes  and  foot-hills ; common  from  the  Gulf  Coast  to  San 
Antonio,  and  westward  to  the  Limpio  Mountains. 

Produces  red  berries  as  large  as  peas,  in  handsome  clusters,  ripening 
in  May $ they  are  acidulous,  pleasantly  flavored,  and  make  excellent 
jelly. 

Berberis  Fremonti,  Torr. 

Rare  shrub  in  mountain  canons,  with  yellow,  very  hard  wood,  and 
dark-blue  berries  the  size  of  currants. 

Fouquiera  splendens,  Eng.  (Ocotillo ; Jacob’s  Wand.)  * 

Very  striking  and  ornamental  plant,  with  long,  prickly  shoots,  tipped 
in  summer  with  a cluster  of  scarlet  flowers.  Common  on  rocky  mesas 
from  the  Pecos  to  the  Colorado. 

The  cut  stems,  stuck  into  the  ground,  grow  with  remarkable  facility, 
and  are  much  used  by  Mexicans  who  plant  them  close  to  one  another, 
forming  tall,  impenetrable  barriers  around  yards.  They  are  impregnated 
with  a resinous  substance  which  makes  them  excellent  fuel ; the  small 
scales,  or  chips,  which  can  generally  be  detached  from  the  base,  are  of 
great  service  in  starting  a camp- tire.  The  leaves,  chewed,  are  pleas- 
antly acidulous. 

Sabal  Palmetto,  R.  & S.?  (Palmetto.) 

In  sparse  clumps  from  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  up  the  river  to 
Edinburgh.  Tree  20  to  30  feet  high,  apparently  identical  with  the  Pal- 
metto of  South  Carolina. 

Arbutus  Xalapenses,  HBK.?  (Madrona.) 

Shrub  and  small  tree  in  the  foot-hills  of  the  Guadalupe,  Limpio  and 
Chisos  Mountans,  with  soft  wood  only  fit  for  fuel.  Yellowish-red  ber- 
ries, the  size  of  currants,  rather  pleasant- tasted. 

Bumelia  lycioides,  Gsertn. 

Called  Coma  by  the  Mexicans  on  the  Lower  Rio  Grande  where  it  be- 
comes a tree  with  stem  a foot  thick.  Wood  tough  and  compact,  making 
excellent  ax-handles.  The  black  berries  are  edible  but  not  very  pala- 
table. 

Ribes  viscosissimum,  Pursh. 

The  only  Gooseberry  seen  in  Western  Texas,  growing  sparingly  in  the 
Guadalupe  Mountains. 


■ ’1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  525 

Ribes  aureum,  Pursh.  (Buffalo  Currant.) 

The  only  Currant  seen ; in  shady  ravines  ; rare. 

Cocculus  Carolinus,  DC. 

Very  common  climber  along  streams,  with  edible  red  berries  the  size 
of  small  peas. 

Lippia  lycioides,  Steud. 

Very  common  shrub  on  rocky  slopes,  with  long  sprays  of  white  flow- 
ers exquisitely  fragrant.  Foliage  eaten  by  cattle,  sheep  and  goats. 

Lantana  Camara,  L. 

Low  bush,  with  dark  green  foliage  and  handsome  goldemorange 
flowers,  considered  poisonous  to  sheep  and  cattle  in  Southeastern  Texas ; 
it  is  noticed  they  always  shun  it,  even  where  grass  is  scant. 

i • 

HERBS. 

Rumex  hymenosepalus,  Torr.  (Canagre.) 

This  Dock  or  Sorrel,  a noted  tannin  plant,  is  easily  distinguished  by 
its  very  large,  ovate-lanceolate  leaves,  a foot  or  more  long,  but  more 
particularly  by  the  large  membranaceous,  pinkish  sepals,  half  an  inch 
! or  more  broad.  Common  west  of  the  Pecos,  in  valleys  and  generally 
not  far  from  streams.  Thrives  best  in  light,  sandy  or  gravelly  soil.  I 
have  seen  it  flourishing,  near  El  Paso,  on  sand  hills  30  feet  or  more  above 
the  level  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

Annual,  chiefly  propagated  by  its  tubers.  Stem  2 to  3 feet  high, 
withering  early  in  summer.  Followed  under  ground,  it  becomes  white 
and  slender,  and  at  a depth  of  about  a foot  gives  off  a first  cluster  of 
tuberous  roots  which  lead  to  other  clusters,  so  that  a single  plant  often 
yields  ten  to  fifteen  tubers.  Each  of  these  is  2 to  4 inches  long  and  1 
to  2 thick,  with  yellowish-brown  pulp  very  astringent  and  bitter  to  the 
taste. 

When  dug  out  during  the  winter,  Canagre  tubers  can  be  kept  a year 
or  more  without  deteriorating  or  impairment  of  their  germinative  power. 
If  planted  in  the  spring,  they  sprout  in  three  or  four  weeks.  At  San 
Antonio,  where  Colonel  Terrell,  U.  S.  A.,  had  quite  a number  planted, 
apparently  under  favorable  conditions,  they  nearly  all  sprouted  in 
time  and  the  young  plants  thrived  until  they  became  6 inches  or  more 
high  when  they  suddenly  withered  and  died;  whether  from  drought, 
careless  tilling,  or  other  cause,  I was  unable  to  ascertain. 

According  to  the  analysis  made  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
(Report  for  1878),  the  air-dry  roots,  with  11.17  per  cent,  of  moisture, 
contain  23.45  per  cent,  of  tannic  acid,  equivalent  to  26.30  per  cent,  of 
tannin  in  strictly  dry  root.  This  tannic  acid  is  of  the  variety  known 
as  rheo-tannic  acid  and  identical  with  that  existing  in  rhubarb.  Be- 
sides this  acid,  alcohol  also  extracts  some  sugar  and  a red  substance 


526  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1865. 

soluble  in  water  (aporetin).  This  root  contains  also  a considerable  pro- 
portion of  starch. 

Mexicans  use  an  infusion  of  the  mashed  tubers  for  tanning.  The 
skins,  after  being  dried,  are  simply  placed  in  vats  full  of  this  infusion. 

A reddish  color  is  at  the  same  time  imparted  to  the  leather. 

The  foliage  is  intensely  bitter  and  astringent  so  that  it  probably 
also  contains  tannin. 

Eriogonum. 

Several  species  of  Eriogonum  grow  abundantly  on  the  slopes  and 
foot  hills  of  Western  Texas.  It  is  probable  that  the  roots  of  some  of 
them  contain  tannin.  The  long,  tapering  roots  of  E.  longifolium  are 
very  astringent  to  the  taste,  probably  owing  to  the  presence  of  this 
acid. 

Calophanes  linearis,  Gray. 

An  inconspicuous  member  of  the  Acanthus  Family,  common  herb  on 
dry  prairies,  with  opposite,  narrow  leaves  one  to  two  inches  long,  and 
showy  purple  axillary  flowers  leaving  after  them  the  persistent  calyx  with 
long,  hispid  sepals.  This  is  the  Snake-Plant  of  Northern  Coahuila  and 
the  Lower  Rio  Grande. 

The  plant,  root  and  all,  is  bruised  or  pounded  with  a little  water,  or 
partly  chewed  in  the  mouth,  and  applied  to  the  bite  without  any  further 
preparation.  At  the  same  tine  it  should  also  be  eaten,  or,  still  better, 
an  infusion  of  it  administered  internally,  ad  libitum.  It  is  tasteless 
and  to  all  appearances  devoid  of  active  properties.  In  the  Mexican 
colonial  troops  stationed  along  the  river,  every  man  carries,  by  orders, 
a small  package  of  this  plant  in  his  pocket,  and  the  officers  are  most 
emphatic  in  their  assurances  of  its  efficacy.  I have  heard  of  a man  in 
one  of  the  interior  towns  of  Coahuila  who  will  cause  himself  to  be  ; 
bitten  by  a rattlesnake  for  a dollar,  if  allowed  to  use  this  antidote. 

In  a region  where  venomous  animals  are  so  common  it  does  not  seem 
improbable  that  nature  may  have  provided  vegetable  antidotes  against  j 
their  poison.  Every  Mexican  State  boasts  a certain  number  of  yerbas 
de  la  vibora , for  the  wonderful  powers  of  which  everybody  seems  willing 
and  anxious  to  vouch.  Their  very  multiplicity,  however,  makes  one 
seriously  doubt  the  value  of  any  particular  one.  Whether  such  natural 
antidotes  exist  has  not  yet  been  scientifically  demonstrated. 

Rivina  laevis,  L.  (Small  Poke- Weed.) 

Herb  with  lignescent  base,  common  in  all  shady  places,  producing  red 
berries  with  a thin,  edible  pulp. 

Malvaviscus  Drummondii,  T.  & G.  (Wild  Fuschia.) 

Tall  and  pretty  herb  of  the  Mallow  Family,  at  San  Antonio  and  North- 
eastward, producing,  late  in  summer,  palatable  scarlet  berries  which  are 
eaten  raw  or  cooked. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  527 


Talinum  aurantiacum,  Eng. 

Elegant  little  plant,  with  fleshy  leaves  and  golden  flowers,  found  every- 
where west  of  the  Pecos ; has  a tuberous  root  good  to  eat  when  cooked. 

Martynia  fragrans,  Lindl.  (Toloaclie.) 

This  Unicorn-plant,  not  unfrequent  in  Western  and  Southern  Texas, 
is  endowed,  in  the  fertile  imagination  of  the  Mexicans,  with  the  re- 
markable property  of  developing,  in  those  to  whom  it  is  administered, 
gradual  and  permanent  insanity. 

Nasturtium  officinale,  R.  Br.  (Water  Cress.) 

Whether  introduced  or  native,  has  taken  possession  of  most  of  the 
streams  in  Western  Texas. 

Selaginelia  lepidophylla,  Spring.  (Siempre  Vive ; Rock  Rose.) 

Very  remarkable  moss-like  plant,  common  on  the  limestone  bluffs  of 
the  Lower  Pecos  and  of  the  Eio  Grande.  While  apparently  withered 
and  dead,  it  can  be  collected  and  kept  for  months  in  a dry  place,  when, 
if  the  roots  be  placed  in  water,  it  begins  to  unfold  its  curled  and  prettily 
dissected  fronds,  fully  expands  and  becomes  green  again,  remaining  so 
as  long  as  moisture  is  furnished.  It  can  be  allowed  to  dry  and  made 
to  revive  again  many  times  before  losing  its  vitality. 

Eurotia  lanata,  Moq,  (White  Sage;  Winter  Fat.) 

Herb  of  some  repute  in  the  Northwest  as  a winter  forage,  but  of  less 
importance  in  Western  Texas  where  it  is  also  common,  on  account  of 
the  good  quality  and  abundance  of  the  grass  at  all  seasons. 

It  is  said,  by  S.  Watson,  to  impart  a disagreeable  flavor  to  the  meat 
of  cattle  fed  upon  it,  and  to  be  used  as  a remedy  in  intermittent  fever. 

Ipomoea  Jalapa,  Pursh.,  and  I.  Nil,  Roth. 

Two  species  of  Morning  Glory  rather  sparingly  found  in  Southern 
and  Southwestern  Texas,  with  thick  napiform  roots  which  are  more  or 
less  cathartic. 

PASTURE  AND  HAY  GRASSES  OF  SOUTH  AND  WEST  TEXAS. 

As  has  already  been  stated  in  the  first  part  of  this  report,  the  larger 
part  of  the  State  of  Texas — that  is,  about  three-fifths  of  its  area — is 
useless  for  the  purposes  of  agriculture,  but  is  covered  by  many  species 
of  grasses,  which  make  it  excellent  pasture-ground.  Unfortunately 
streams  and  springs  are  very  few,  so  that  immense  tracts  of  luxuriant 
prairie  remain  untouched  by  cattle  or  sheep  on  account  of  the  absence 
of  surface  water. 

The  grasses  growing  on  the  plains  of  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and 
Western  Texas,  as  well  as  on  the  Rocky  Mountain  plateaus  farther 
north,  have  acquired  a wide  reputation  “for  their  rich,  nutritious  prop- 
erties, for  their  ability  to  withstand  the  dry  seasons,  and  for  the  quality 


528  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

of  self- drying  or  curing,  so  as  to  be  available  for  pasturage  in  the  win- 
ter.”* This  property  of  self-curing  is  well  worthy  of  consideration.  It 
enables  cattle  to  find  ample  food  during  the  winter  by  roaming'at  free- 
dom, without  shelter,  over  the  vast  western  table-lands,  where  they  are 
rapidly  increasing,  taking  the  place  of  the  nearly  extinct  buffalo.  It 
renders  the  raising  of  sheep  particularly  remunerative  in  Arizona  and 
Western  Texas,  where  frost  and  snow  are  rare. 

According  to  General  Alvord,  quoted  by  Dr.  Yasey,  grasses  are  self- 
cured  only  on  plains  and  plateaus  3,000  feet  or  more  above  sea-level. 
The  Staked  Plains  and  most  of  the  prairie  lands  west  of  the  Pecos  are 
at  or  above  that  elevation,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  pasturage  east 
of  the  Pecos  and  south  of  Austin  is  below  it ; and  yet  it  can  hardly  be 
denied  that  the  grasses  of  this  lower  region,  even  those  of  Southeastern 
Texas  between  the  Nueces  and  the  Rio  Grande,  are  also  capable  of  the 
autumnal  drying,  which  makes  them  available  for  winter  grazing.  On 
the  very  coast,  two  or  three  hundred  feet  above  sea -level,  between  San 
Diego  and  Corpus  Christi.  are  large  herds  of  cattle  and  flocks  of  sheep, 
which  during  the  winter  get  no  other  food  than  the  native  grasses  of 
the  prairie.  It  seems,  therefore,  that  elevation,  although  an  ordinary, 
is  not  a necessary  factor  in  the  process  under  consideration,  and  that 
the  degree  of  atmospheric  dryness  required  for  its  (perhaps  less  perfect) 
accomplishment  can  exist  at  low  altitudes. 

Among  the  many  excellent  grasses  clothing  the  vast  prairies  of  South 
and  West  Texas  the  Gramas,  owing  to  their  abundance  and  nutritive 
qualities,  stand  pre-eminent.  Of  the  ten  species  collected  the  following 
are  most  worthy  of  note : 

Common  or  Blue  Grama  ( Bouteloua  oligostachya );  grows  everywhere 
throughout  Texas,  wherever  grass  can  fairly  grow — in  thrifty,  dense 
patches  on  low  prairies,  thin  and  sparse  on  alkali  flats  and  rocky  slopes. 
It  forms  a large  proportion  of  the  hay  delivered  at  the  various  military 
posts  and  stage  stations,  and  is  considered  the  best  obtainable.  It 
cures  itself  in  the  most  perfect  way,  so  that,  although  often  dead  and 
dry  on  the  parched  prairie,  it  suffers  no  loss  of  properties.  Analysis 
(Rothrock,  Bot.  West  of  the  One  Hundredth  Meridian)  shows  that  it 
contains  comparatively  little  water  and  fiber,  a large  quantity  of  sugar 
or  sugar- forming  material,  fat,  and  aqueous  extract. 

Black  Grama  ( B . hirsuta );  hardly  distinguishable  from  the  last  in 
appearance,  and  equally  good ; found  with  it  in  many  places,  but  in 
much  less  abundance. 

Tall  Grama  ( B . racemosa );  grows  sparsely  with  the  two  preceding 
species,  but  is  inferior  to  them  in  quality. 

Many-eared  Grama  (B.  polystachya) ; small,  slender  grass  of  good 
quality,  common  in  thin,  scattered  bunches  on  the  arid  bluffs  of  the 
Rio  Grande,  from  El  Paso  to  Eagle  Pass  and  Laredo. 

Woolly -jointed  Grama  (B.  eriopoda )•,  tall  and  thrifty,  forming  dense 


* The  Agricultural  Grasses  of  the  United  States.,  by  Dr.  George  Yasey. 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  529 


Vol.  VIII,  Vo.  34.  Washington,  D.  C.  Sept.  30,  1885. 


and  excellent  pastures  in  the  Limpio,  Guadalupe,  and  Eagle  Mountains, 
on  the  Staked  Plains,  Upper  Pecos,  Delaware  Creek,  &c. 

Texas  Grama  ( B . Texana) ; small  but  excellent,  common  about  San 
Antonio,  thence  eastward  and  southward  to  the  coast  and  the  Eio 
Grande. 

B.  Humboldtiana , common  on  the  mesas  of  Eagle  Pass  and  Lower 
Eio  Grande ; B.  Havardii , on  the  high  prairies  of  Presidio  County. 

Equal  or  superior  to  the  Gramas  in  quality,  but  less  generally  dis- 
tributed, is  the  famed  Buffalo-  or  Mezquit-Grass  (Buchloe  dactyloides). 
This  invaluable  grass,  densely  tufted  and  spreading  by  stolons  into 
broad  mats,  is  the  best  constituent  of  sheep  pastures.  It  extends  from 
Northeastern  Texas,  San  Antonio,  and  Laredo  westward  to  the  branches 
of  the  Concho.  Although  hardy  and  fast  spreading,  it  does  not  thrive 
on  the  dry,  sandy  plains  of  the  far  Southwest,  and  is  rare  beyond  the 
Pecos. 

A bunch-grass,  frequently  seen  on  the  bluffs  of  the  Eio  Grande  and 
its  tributaries,  from  El  Paso  to  the  Great  Canon,  with  the  habit  of  a 
Grama,  and  of  excellent  quality,  is  Cathestechum  erectum , hitherto  unno- 
ticed north  of  the  Eio  Grande. 

From  the  Concho  and  Abilene  westward  to  El  Paso  the  most  com- 
mon grass  on  bottoms  and  low  prairies  is  Hilaria  mutica , sometimes 
called  Wire-Grass,  which,  in  the  absence  of  Gramas,  affords  good  graz- 
ing for  horses  and  cattle.  % It  forms  the  bulk  of  the  hay  consumed  at 
Camp  Eice.  Another  species  of  this  genus,  H.  cenchroides , a smaller 
and  more  delicate  grass,  grows  on  the  high  prairies  of  Eagle  Pass,  ex- 
tending sparingly  westward  to  the  prairie  district  of  Marfa. 

Common  and  important  is  the  Eed  Awned-Grass  (Aristida  purpurea). 
Under  different  forms  it  extends  from  Dallas,  San  Antonio,  and  the 
Lower  Eio  Grande  to  the  Eio  Concho  and  the  Pecos ; thence,  in  less 
frequency,  over  the  Staked  Plains  to  El  Paso.  It  forms  a large  pro- 
portion and  is  one  of  the  best  constituents  of  the  hay  cut  about  San 
Antonio.  Another  species,  A.  dispersa , is  likewise  common  in  the 
West,  but  of  inferior  quality. 

The  Pappophorum  Wrightii , which  from  its  hue  might  be  called  Pur- 
ple Grass,  is  fully  the  equal  of  Grama  or  Buffalo-Grass  in  nutritive 
value.  I have  seen  horses  and  mules  turn  from  green  and  thrifty 
Grama  to  feed  on  this  plant.  Unfortunately  it  is  nowhere  common;  I 
noticed  it  on  the  Pecos  and  Concho,  in  the  Guadalupe  Mountains,  and 
on  the  broad  plains  between  Alamo  Spring  and  the  Hueco  Mountains. 
Another  species,  P.  vaginatum , common  about  Eagle  Pass,  is  a coarser 
grass. 

Less  important  than  the  preceding,  but  also  of  considerable  value,  are 
the  following : 

Sporobolus  airoides , the  Salt  Grass  of  the  Pecos;  grows  on  all  the  low 
Proc.  Hat.  Mus.  85 34 


530  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


saline  prairies  of  that  stream  and  farther  west  and  north.  It  purges 
at  first,  and  may  cause  severe  colic  in  horses  and  mules ; cattle  are  but 
slightly  affected,  and  seem  to  relish  it ; it  probably  affords  a useful 
change  of  diet. 

S.  Wrightii , the  Maton  of  the  Mexicans,  is  a tall,  coarse  grass,  grow- 
ing in  large  clumps  over  the  Rio  Grande  bottom.  During  the  winter, 
in  the  absence  of  other  grazing,  Mexican  ponies  feed  on  the  Maton,  and 
keep  in  fair  condition.  As  a hardy  perennial  grass  for  saline  bottoms, 
subject  to  flooding  and  incapable  of  cultivation,  this  plant  deserves 
notice. 

Brizopyrum  spicatum  (Spike-Grass) ; another  salt  grass,  common  on  low, 
marshy  places,  sometimes  affords  fair  pasturage  where  hardly  any  other 
grass  can  be  found. 

Muhlenbergia  Texana ; abundant  on  the  low,  fertile  meadows  of  the 
West,  adding  much  to  the  value  of  pastures. 

Andropogon  saccharoides  and  scoparius  (Beard-Grass) ; widespread  and 
forming  notable  constituents  of  the  hay  cured  in  Western  Texas,  but  not 
considered  of  very  good  quality. 

Cynodon  dactylon  (Bermuda-Grass) ; low  and  creeping;  found  mostly 
along  the  coast  and  the  Lower  Rio  Grande ; becoming  widely  introduced 
and  forming  most  of  the  lawns  in  San  Antonio ; able  to  withstand  heat 
and  drought,  and  therefore  well  adapted  to  dry,  sandy  soils.  It  is 
esteemed  a good  pasture  grass. 

Triodia  acuminata  and  var.  monstrosa  ; T.  pulchella  ; common  and  wide- 
spread, but  of  inferior  quality. 

Other  grasses  highly  prized  for  pasture  or  hay,  and  recommended  as 
worthy  of  propagation  on  the  central  and  some  of  the  western  prairies 
of  Texas,  are : Texas  Millet  (Panicum  Texanum ),  spontaneous  in  the  Colo- 
rado Valley,  where  it  is  much  valued,  and  by  many  farmers  preferred 
to  any  other  grass ; Texas  Blue-Grass  (Poa  arachnifera ),  native  on  the 
prairies  of  the  Brazos  and  the  Trinity ; in  appearance  very  much  like 
its  Kentucky  congener,  and,  it  is  reported,  not  inferior  to  it  in  quality; 
Johnson-Grass,  or  Cuba-Grass  ( Sorghum  Halapense ),  a tall,  perennial 
broom-corn,  quick  to  spread  by  its  root-stocks,  very  nutritious  and  pro- 
ductive, yielding  three  or  four  crops  a year,  but  most  difficult  of  eradi- 
cation; Shrader’s  Grass,  also  called  Johnson  Grass  at  San  Antonio 
(. Bromus  unioloides ),  a very  productive  winter  grass,  of  good  quality, 
very  hardy  on  dry  prairie,  and  rapidly  spreading  on  vacant  lands  about 
San  Antonio. 

HEDGE  PLANTS  OF  SOUTH  AND  WESTERN  TEXAS. 

In  a country  where  thorny  shrubbery  abounds  we  naturally  find 
quite  a number  of  excellent  hedge  plants,  and  it  is  probable  that  in 
many  places  they  might  advantageously  take  the  place  of  fences* 
Hedges  can  be  grown  in  almost  any  soil  and  situation  if  the  right  plant 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  531 


be  selected  and  some  care  be  given  to  its  planting  and  first  growth. 
Wild  seedlings  of  the  proper  size,  and  in  sufficient  quantity,  are  always 
hard  to  find;  it  is  much  better  to  sow,  in  a nursery,  the  seeds  of  the 
I shrubs  selected  and  raise  our  own  seedlings,  which  we  then  can  trans- 
plant at  the  most  opportune  time.  This  nursery  ought  to  be  made  in 
well  prepared  and  manured  ground,  and  freely  watered.  The  following 
year,  the  young  stems  can  be  transplanted,  wherever  needed,  at  the 
beginning  of  or  during  the  rainy  season;  that  is,  in  September  in  West- 
ern Texas,  and  later  east  of  San  Antonio.  Transplantation  done  in  the 
dry  season,  or  without  the  prospect  of  several  heavy  rains  to  start  the 
plant,  would  be  futile. 

Mezquit,  as  a hedge  plant,  deserves  particular  attention.  I believe 
it  ofters  the  best  chances  of  success  on  plains  and  high  prairies.  Next 
in  value,  in  the  same  situation,  I would  recommend  Zizyplius  obtusifolius 
and  the  several  species  of  Condalia.  The  other  native  shrubs  capable 
of  making  good  hedges  are:  Celtis pallida,  Castela  Nicholsoni , Kceberli- 
nia  spinosa , Prosopis  pubescens,  Acacia  Greggii , A.  Berlandieri , A.  amen- 
tacea , A.  Wrightii , A.  Roemeriana,  A.  Farnesiana , Mimosa  biuncifera , 
Ceanotlms  Fendleri.  They  have  all  been  already  noticed. 

SYNOPSIS. 

As  a useful  synopsis,  and  for  convenient  reference,  the  economic 
plants,  already  noticed  in  their  proper  botanical  order,  are  here  grouped 
according  to  their  several  uses  and  properties,  under  the  following 
headings : 

Used  in  construction ; trees  of  medium  or  large  size : Prosopis  juliflora  ; 
Populus  monilifera  and  Fremonti;  Salix  nigra  and  amygdaloides ; Pinus 
ponder osa  and  jlexilis  ; Pseudotsuga  Bouglasii ; Quercus  virens , grisea , 
rubra , Emoryi , Muhlenbergii  ; Gary  a oliveeformis  ; Ulmus  Americana  and 
crassifolia  ; Celtis  occidentalis  ; Acer  grandidentatum  ; Fraxinus  viridis 
(var.  Berlandieriana ),  and  pistacieefolia  ; Ehretia  elliptica. 

Used  in  cabinet-making,  turnery,  &c.;  trees  with  hard,  colored,  close- 
grained  wood  : Prosopis  juliflora  ; Acacia  Farnesiana , Jlexilis , Greggii; 
Sophora  secundi flora  and  affinis;  Juniper  us  pachyphlcea;  Juglans  rupestris; 
Sapindus  marginatus  ; Condalia  obovata  ; Celtis  pallida  ; Porliera  angus- 
tifolia;  Koeberlinia  spinosa;  Cordia  Boissieri. 

Used  for  posts,  fencing,  fuel;  small  trees,  or  stout  shrubs:  Prosopis 
juliflora  and  pubescens;  Acacia  Farnesiana , Greggii , Wrightii , Rcemeriana , 
Jlexilis ; Sophora  secundiflora  and  affinis ; Parlcinsonia  aculeata ; Salix 
nigra , longifolia,  and  amygdaloides  ; Pinus  edulis  ; Juniperus  occidentalis 
and  flaccida  ; Quercus  grisea , undulata , Burandii , stellata ; Celtis  pallida; 
M&rus  microphylla  ; TJngnadia  speciosa;  JEsculus  flava ; Acer  grandiden- 
tatum ; Reg  undo  aceroides ; Sapindus  marginatus ; Rhamnus  Caroliana 
and  Purshiana ; Kamcinskia  Humboldtiana ; Fraxinus  cuspidata  and 
Greggii;  Fcrestiera  reticulata  and  angustifolia ; Cordia  Boissieri ; Prunus 
Americana , var.  mollis;  Crataegus  subvillosa ; Larrea  Mexicana;  Por- 


532  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 

Her  a angustifolia ; Helietta  parvifolia ; Ptelea.  trifoliata;  Kceberlinia 
spinosa ; Diospyros  Texana ; Berberis  Fremonti;  Fouquiera  splendens ; 
Arbutus  Xalapensis ; Bumelia  lycioides. 

Furnishing  edible  fruit:  Prosopis  juliflora  and  pubescens ; Phaseolus 
retusus  ; Pinus  edulis  ; Juniper  us  pachyphlcea  ; Cary  a olivceformis ; Jug- 
Ians  nigra  ; Celtis  occidentals  and  pallida ; Morus  rubra  and  microphylla ; 
Condalia  obovata , spathulata , Mexicana ; Eliretia  elliptica;  Cordia  Bois. 
sieri;  Vitis  cand leans,  cestivalis , riparia , rupestris ; Prunus  Americana , 
var.  mollis , P.  rivularis  and  Capollin  ; Rubus  trivialis ; Capsicum  bacca- 
tum  ; Yucca  baccata ; Helianthus  lenticularis ; Cereus  stramineus,  dubius , 
enneacanthus , dasy acanthus ; Fchinocactus  longehamatus  and  liorizontha- 
lonius ; Mamillaria  meiacantha  and  tuberculosa ; Opuntia  Engelmanni 
and  dulcis ; Diospyros  Texana ; Berberis  trifoliata ; Cocculus  Carolinus; 
Rivina  Icevis ; Drummondii. 

Furnishing  esculent  parts  other  than  the  fruit : Psoralea  esculenta ; 
Hoffmanseggia  stricta;  Peteria  scop  aria ; Dasylirion  Texanum ; Agave 
Wislizeni  and  Americana;  Opuntia  Engelmanni ; Apodanthera  undulata ; 
Talinum  aurantiacum  ; Nasturtium  officinale. 

Yielding  sap,  gum,  or  alcoholic  liquor:  Prosopis  juliflora ; Negundo 
accroides ; Dasylirion  Texanum ; Yucca  baccata ; Agave  Americana  and 
Wislizeni;  Juniperus pachyphlcea. 

Textile  plants:  Yucca  baccata ; Agave  heteracantha,  Americana , Rise - 
lana. 

Amole  or  soap  plants:  Yucca  baccata  and  angustifolia ; Agave  hetera- 
cantha;  Sapindus  marginatus. 

Poisonous  plants:  Sophora  secundiflora;  Astragalus  mollissimus ; 
Oxytropis  Lamberti;  TJngnadia  speciosa;  Karwinskia  Humboldtiana ; 
Rhus  Toxicodendron ; Vitis  incisa;  Apodanthera  undulata ; Engelmannia 
pinnatifida  ; Lantana  Camara. 

Dye  plants:  tSophora  secundiflora;  Condalia  obovata;  Vitis  incisa ; 
Larrea  Mexicana;  Krameria  canescens ; Diospyros  Texana;  Rumex 
hymenosepalus. 

Tea  and  coffee  plants:  Sesbania  cavanillesii ; Acacia  flexilis ; Croton 
corybulosus  and  suaveolens  ; Bidens  Bigelovii  ; Salvia  ballotceflora ; Rede- 
oma  Drummondi. 

Antidotes  against  the  bites  of  venomous  animals:  Euphorbia  albo- 
marginata , stictospora , cinerascens  (var.  appendiculata) ; Calophanes  line- 
aris. 

Tannin  plants:  Prosopis  juliflora;  Acacia  Farnesiana;  Rhus  copal- 
lina;  Krameria  lanceolat a,  par vifolia,  canescens;  Rumex  hymenosepalus ; 
Eriogonum  longifolium. 

Perfume  plants:  Acacia  Farnesiana  and  flexilis;  Pectis  angustifolia , 
longipes,  papposa  ; Actinella  odorata  ; Lippia  lycioides. 

Medicinal  plants:  Acacia  Farnesiana ; Parkinsonia  aculeata ; Ephedra 
antisyphilitica  and  trifur ca  ; Cordia  Boissieri;  Solanum  elceagnifolium ; 
Nicotiana  glauca;  Mozinna  spatulata;  Jatropha  macrorhiza;  Acalypha 


1885.]  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  533 

Lindheimeri ; Larrea  Mexicana;  Porliera  angustifolia ; Xantlioxylum 
Clava-Herculis  and  Pterota;  Castela  erect  a ; Agave  Wislizeni ; Opuntia 
Engelmanni ; Anlialonium  Jissuratum ; Gucurbita  perennis ; Krameria 
canescens , lanceolata,  parvifolia  ; Grindelia  squarrosa;  Parthenium  hys- 
terophorus;  Hymenatlierum  gnaphaliopsis ; Clirysactinia  Mexicana ; Chi - 
lopsis  saligna  ; Eurotia  lanata ; Ipomcea  Jalapa  and  XU. 

Ornamental  trees  and  shrubs:  Acacia  Farnesiana  and  constricta ; So- 
phora  secundiflora  and  affinis;  Parkinsonia  aculeata  and  Texana  ; Sesba- 
nia  Cavanillesii ; Cassia  Wislizeni ; Leucopliyllum  Texanum  and  minus ; 
Pentstemon  baccharifolius ; Morus  rubra ; Fraxinus  pistacicefolia ; Por- 
liera angustifolia ; Chilopsis  saligna ; Tecoma  stans;  Salvia  regia;  Ni - 
cotiana  glauca  ; Berberis  trifoliata  ; Fouquiera  splendens  ; Buddleia  mar - 
rubiifolia  ; Yucca  ba<icata  and  angustifolia. 

Pasture  and  hay  grasses : See  special  section  under  this  heading. 

Hedge  plants : See  special  section  under  this  heading. 

Forage  plants,  not  grasses:  Prosopis  julijlora  and pubescens ; Pitheco- 
lobium  brevifolium ; Opuntia  Engelmanni  and  others ; Eurotia  lanata. 

Miscellaneous:  Prosopis  julijlora  ; Parkinsonia  Texana  ; Rhus  virens  ; 
Solanum  elceagnifolium ; Mozinna  spathulata ; Nolina  Texana ; Opuntia 
Engelmanni ; Anhalonium  Jissuratum ; Cucurbita  perennis ; Martynia 
fragrans ; Sabal  Palmetto. 


534  PROCEEDINGS  OF  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  [1885. 


NOTES  ON  THE  MOLLUSKS  OP  THE  VICINITY  OF  SAN  DIEGO,  CAL., 
AND  TODOS  SANTOS  BAY,  LOWER  CALIFORNIA. 

By  CHARLES  R.  ORCUTT,*  with  comments  by  \V.  II.  DALE. 

During  the  past  few  years  I have  made  extensive  collections,  mainly 
of  littoral  shells,  in  this  vicinity,  and  have  had  opportunity  for  making 
hasty  notes  and  collections  while  botanizing  on  the  shores  of  All  Saints 
(Todos  Santos)  Bay,  situated  about  50  miles  south  of  San  Diego.  From 
material  collected,  the  marine  fauna  of  San  Diego  appears  to  possess  a 
larger  number  of  the  species  of  the  Lower  Californian  coast  than  of  the 
Californian  province  to  the  north,  while  few  species  can  be  considered 
as  locally  characteristic  with  our  present  knowledge  of  their  distribu- 
tion. 

San  Diego  Bay  is  protected  on  the  west  by  a high  promontory,  Point 
Lorn  a,  with  a rocky  ocean  beach  and  a shingle  beach  by  the  entrance 
to  the  harbor.  Inside  of  the  entrance  is  an  extensive  bed  of  clay  and 
boulders  at  what  is  known  as  La  Play  a,  and  this  station  forms  the  prin- 
cipal home  of  the  pholads,  rock  pectens  ( Hinnites  gigantea  Gray),  and 
other  shells  not  elsewhere  found  abundantly.  The  bay  is  protected  on 
the  southwest  by  a low,  narrow  peninsula,  with  a hard,  sandy  ocean 
beach,  and  sand  or  mud  on  the  bay  side.  North  of  San  Diego  Bay  lies 
a large  lagoon  known  as  False  Bay,  which  possesses  extensive  muddy 
flats  and  a narrow  peninsula  of  sand  dunes  on  the  west.  Inside  of  this 
bar  is  a stretch  of  rocky  beach,  famous  as  a clam  bed,  and  to  this  refer- 
ence is  usually  made  when  False  Bay  is  mentioned.  North  of  the  ocean 
side  of  this  peninsula  the  beach  is  similar  to  that  on  the  west  of  Point 
Loma,  rocky  pools  with  irregular  stretches  of  flat  or  broken  boulders 
partially  imbedded  in  shell  sand,  beneath  which  a rich  harvest  of  small 
species  may  be  anticipated.  ' 

Todos  Santos  (or  All  Saints)  Bay  is  unprotected  from  the  surf,  and 
on  the  north  and  south  possesses  rocky  beaches,  between  which  on  the 
east  lies  about  20  miles  of  hard,  sandy  beach,  poor  in  living  shells.  The 
north  beach  is  of  a volcanic  formation,  while  on  the  south  it  is  largely 
composed  of  fossil  shells,  of  which  there  is  an  immense  deposit.  When 
the  station  is  not  mentioned,  the  species  has  been  found  at  both  San 
Diego  and  on  Todos  Santos  Bay.  The  determinations  have  largely  been 
made  or  verified  by  George  W.  Try  on,  jr.,  of  Philadelphia,  and  William 
H.  Dali,  of  Washington,  to  whom  I am  greatly  indebted.  Specimens  of 
the  more  interesting  species  have  been  contributed  to  the  United  States 
National  Museum  and  the  Museum  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences 
at  Philadelphia. 

* The  specific<nomenclature  of  this  paper  has  been  revised  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Dali  at  Mr. 
Oreutt’s  request ; the  rarer  species  have  been  examined,  and  several  doubtful  species 
have  been  determined  by  Mr.  Dali  from  the  types  in  the  National  Museum.  Occasional 
notes  in  brackets  have  also  been  added  by  Mr.  Dali. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 
581 . 9764H29R  C001 

REPORT  ON  THE  FLORA  OF  WESTERN  AND  SOUTH 


